The lingering crisis between the traditional ruler of Amankanu-Amurri, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Linus Nwobodo and the town union leadership appears to be defying all efforts at amicable resolution.
The crisis has reportedly led to five different court cases with judgments delivered in some of the matters, yet peace has continued to elude the community.
In one of such cases, which came up at an Enugu High Court sitting in Agbani, the court advised the traditional ruler to pursue a peaceful out-of-court settlement of the matter with his people.
The monarch in suit No. HAGB/5/2012, dragged Paulicap Nweke, his traditional prime minister and other members of the town union executive to court for alleged embezzlement of N19.5 million World Bank grant.
He also accused them of spreading rumours that he is not a legitimate son of the community, which the union leadership denied.
The presiding judge, Justice A. O. Anidi told the monarch that as long as the case remained in the court, it would continue to breed enmity among the younger generation of the community, noting that peace would continue to elude them.
Justice Ani spoke after the defense counsel, Ray Nnaji told the court that Igwe Nwobodo had not been forthcoming on the earlier directive by the court that the parties should go and make peace and report back to the court.
Nnaji told the court that the traditional ruler insisted that the peace negotiation should hold in his palace, which was not convenient for the defendants.
But the judge urged the monarch who was represented by his counsel, Akaraiwe to expedite the peace talk so that by the next adjourned date truce would have been reached with the defendants, for peace to return to the community.
The case was adjourned to November 25, 2015. (Daily Sun)
