REVEALED: the suspension of the 12 Anambra Monarchs is illegal according to Section 10 (1) of ANHA/LAW/2007/07

AIF Media

The suspension of the 12 traditional rulers from Anambra state who accompanied Prince Engr Arthur Eze to meet with President Buhari to thank him for the upgrading of infrastructure in southeast such as the 2nd Niger bridge, Enugu International Airport etc, is illegal.

AIF Media investigation shows that gov Obiano did not follow due process in suspending the Igwes. In our painstaking investigation, AIF Media gathered that for the governor to suspend or withdraw the certificate of recognition issued to any traditional ruler in the state, he must seek the approval from the state House of Assembly.

According to the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law passed and gazzetted by the state assembly in 2007, section 10, subsection (1) of the law states thus:

"Notwithstanding anything contained in this law, the governor shall with the approval of 2/3 majority of the House of Assembly withdraw the recognition of a recognised traditional ruler if the governor is satisified that such suspension or withdrawal is:
(a) necessary having regards to the code of conduct required by the customary law existing between the traditional ruler and the town or community which he represents; or
(b) necessary in the interest of peace, order and good governance.

Sequel to the above, gov Obiano erred by suspending the 12 monarchs unilaterally without the approval by 2/3 majority of members of the House of Assembly.

And without the approval of the 2/3 majority of the state assembly, the suspension can not hold. The 12 Igwes are deemed not to have been suspended because the due process as provided for in the Traditional Rulers Law 2007 was not followed.

Again, the Law in section 9 subsection 2 states that any traditional ruler who was suspended or his certificate withdrawn that such traditional ruler has only a month from the date of his suspension to surrender the certificate to the secretary of his local govt area.

But in the case of the 12 Igwes, they have not returned their certificates of recognition to their local govt areas because their purported suspension was illegal. And without the return of the certificate of recognition, they remain in their throne, that's what the law says.

From our investigation, there are plans to ... read full story: https://dailynewsreporters.com/revealed-the-suspension-of-the-12-anambra-monarchs-is-illegal-according-to-section-10-1-of-anha-law-2007-07/