The people of Minama community in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have declared categorically that Chief Probyn H. Grans-Ege remains their regent.
Alabo Hon. Datonye I.I George who made this known in a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, said that besides Chief Grans-Ege no one has the right whatsoever to perform any traditional function as the head of the community.
A special resolution reached by the people of the community on Saturday August 8, 2015 at the King Ibiamaye-Loku square placed suspension order on the Amanyanabo of the community, HRH Iboroma T. Ibiamaye Loku XII and one Chief Mpakaboari Sydney George for their refusal to render accounts of income and expenditure of the Community Trust (CT) from 2007-2011 and all monies received by them on behalf of the town when the duo were the chairman and secretary of the Minama Community Trust.
The community regretted that after his suspension Iboroma Talbot allegedly resorted to writing of petitions against some prominent sons and daughters of Minama.
According to the resolution, the kingship stool of king Ibiamaye-Loku shall remain vacant until a new Amanyanabo is accepted and installed and thereby appointed Chief Probyn Grans-Ege as the regent of the community and empowered to perform the responsibilities of Amanyanabo.
Before the resolution an High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State also ruled on Suit No PHC/461/2012 that Grans-Ege should act as the chairman of Minama community and to perform all the duties and function of the Amanyanabo, pending the determination of the motion.
The verdict was delivered by Hon. Justice S. O. Iragunima on the 22nd day of July 2015 pointed that the defendants (HRH Iboroma T. Ibiamaye-Loku XI and Chief Mpakaboari Sydney George) cannot subject the community to tyranny; hence the court stated that in the interest of Justice will protect the entire community from the tyranny of the defendants.
Hon. Justice Iragunima in his ruling declared “as custodians of Minama community funds through the Community Trust (CT), the defendants have a duty to account to the community of all monies, which had come into the Community Trust from 2007-2011.
The court equally makes an order compelling the defendants to render account of the income and expenditure of the Community Trust (CT) from 2007-2011 and all the monies received by them on behalf of the community within 14 days from the date of the judgment”.
The court went ahead to restrain HRH Iboroma Ibiamaye-Loku XII from parading as the Amanyanabo of Minama until the suspension is lifted by the community.
Alabo (Hon) Datonye I.I. George had earlier stated, Iboroma Talbot has no legal right to present himself as the Amanyanabo of Minama community until a higher court vacant the judgment of the High Court dated July 22, 2015. He applauded the leadership of Chief Grans-Ege, adding that since he (Grans-Ege) took over the administration of the affairs of the community, Minama is now on the fast lane of development. ###
