His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ntui Atue Oru Ojong, has been awarded N50 million by a Calabar High Court as compensation for the illegal removal of his position as the paramount monarch of the Etung LGA in Cross River State.

The High Court further mandated that the monarch be immediately reinstated along with all perks that accrued to him during that time.

The state government removed the king from power in May 2021 without offering him any compensation for allegedly misusing cocoa money.

On March 23, 2023, Judge Elias O. Abua, the presiding court, stated in his ruling on case number HC/96/2022 that the compensation is meant to ease the mental and psychological distress the monarch endured while being suspended by the state government.

The Cross River State Government, the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Justice, and four other parties were the defendants in the case, while HRM Ntui Atue Oru Ojong was the claimant.

The claimant, who is also the head of the Traditional Rulers’ Council of Etung LGA, was suspended by the state government, according to the court, without following the proper legal procedures.

The court insisted that no legal provision permits the state government to impose a suspension order on a supreme ruler.

The judge clarified that the legislation only permits the state government to revoke a paramount ruler’s certificate of recognition if they violate its terms.

Sections 5, 17(1), 21, (1) and (2), 27, 28(2), and 30(2) of Traditional Rulers Act T4 Vol.6 Laws of Cross River State 2004 were violated by the suspension.

“Thus, the suspension was arbitrary, incorrect, illegal, and null and void. In terms of the case, the claimant was never granted a fair hearing, according to Abua’s ruling.

As HRM Oru Ojong was never removed from his throne or had his certificate of recognition revoked, the court further prevented the state government from appointing anyone as the paramount king of Etung LGA.

The court further declared all actions taken and all documents signed by the sixth defendant, Ntufam Raphael Ekuri Agbor, in his official capacity null and void and issued a warning to him ordering him to stop immediately from posing as the acting supreme monarch of Etung LGA.

According to Abua’s ruling, “an order of perpetual injunction restraining 1st and 4th defendants, their agents, servants, and privies from ever recognizing or issuing the certificate of recognition to Ntufam Raphael Ekuri Agbor as the paramount ruler of Etung LGA while the claimant is still paramount ruler and president of Traditional Council, his certificate of recognition having not been revoked or withdrawn.”

He briefly spoke with the restored supreme monarch on Monday at Ikom at his home, and he appeared pleased about the situation.

I thank God that the court still exists because it is the final bastion of hope for the average person, he remarked. I have pardoned everyone who plotted to frame me for reasons that only they know.

“I was accused of stealing the royalties intended for the cocoa landlord communities of Etung. Beneficiaries are now receiving payments from the state government as of right now. So where did I steal the cocoa money from?

Dr. Oscar Ofuka, Governor Ben Ayade’s special advisor on cocoa development, declined to comment.