LEGAL SHOWDOWN CONCLUDES: NBA AFIKPO BRANCH AND EKPUKE ESSA RULING COUNCIL OF EHUGBO REACH AMICABLE RESOLUTION

His Lordship, Hon. Justice N. E. Nwode, on Wednesday, 21st day of January, 2026 in Suit No: HAF/39/2025 delivered the judgment in a Suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association and members of the Nigerian Bar Association Afikpo Branch against the Okabue, Ichie Maurice Ogbonnia, Essa Otu Ibrahim Uro, Ichie Omeri Nwachi, Mr. Innocent Ogbonnia Akpu and others who are Representatives of the members of the Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo. 

The Action originated by Originated Summons brought pursuant to Order 3, Rules 5 and 6 of the High Court Rules of Ebonyi State 2008, Sections 6 (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), Rule 24 (1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2003 (As Amended) and Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners’ Act, 2007. 

The Declaratory Reliefs sought amongst other include, A Declaration that Ekpuke Essa Tradituional Ruling Council of Ehugbo being a customary arbitration body ddoes not have the inherent powers to compel parties before it to subject themselves to their jurisdiction, nor to make laws, rules, guidelines, regulations or bye laws regulating Legal Practitioners and the practice of law in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. Also the Plaintiffs sought for a Declaratory relief that the Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo does not have the powers to prohibit, restrict an prevent a Legal Practitioner from accepting a brief  from a prospective client or from representing a client in court merely because such a client has refused to submit to their customary arbitration.

 Upon the service of the court processes on the Defendants, they approached the Plaintiffs for an out of court settlement and the Plaintiffs obliged them, hence the Terms of Settlement was reached freely and amicably; all the parties freely signed and also admitted same in Court. The said Terms of Settlement was marked as Exhibit -- A. 

The Honourable Court having found that the parties satisfied all the requirements of the Law as to be entitled to Consent Judgment reproduced the said Terms of Settlement inter alia:

• That Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo shall NEVER interfere with the constitutional and statutory duties of lawyers
• That Arbitration before Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo is voluntary and nobody should be forced to submit to or accept the outcome of any arbitral proceedings.
• That Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo do not have the rights to compel any party to any land transaction to pass through them or have recourse to them except if the land is an ancestral homestead (Okpulo).
• That Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council shall appoint a Legal Adviser whoshall guide the council in sensitive issues that may have legal implications.
• That Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo shall desist from taking actions or making pronouncements that infringe on the fundamental rights of members of the public.

The other Plaintiffs who represented the NBA Afikpo Branch in this suit include the Leader of the Rock Bar- Prince Paulinus Orji, the Chairman of the Branch- Eberechukwu E. Omezue-Nnali Esq, the Secretary-Ifeanyichukwu Egwu Esq and Chief Amos Ogbonnaya. The Legal Team was headed by Godwin Agha Esq and a host of other Colleagues from NBA Afikpo Branch whilethe Defendants were unrepresented.

It is worthwhile to note that this judgment of the honourable court has helped to strengthen the harmonious/peaceful co-existence betwee the Legal Practitioners and the Ekpuke Essa Traditional Ruling Council of Ehugbo in Afikpo Ebonyi State. This is one of the milestones recorded by the Eberechukwu E. Omezue-Nnali’s –Led Executive of 2024-2026.

for copy of the Judgement:

©®👆Chairman of NBA AFIKPO BRANCH (The Rock Bar) --- BARR. MRS. EBERECHUKWU EKEMMA OMEZUE-NNALI