A Bayelsa State High Court sitting of Oporoma Division sitting in Yenagoa on Monday declared the October, 2015 election into the vacant stool of the Amananowei / Paramount ruler of Ayama Ijaw community of Southern Ijaw Local government Area of the State, ordering that the Police Inspector parading himself as duely elected to occupy the stool to stop as he is not qualified.
The chieftancy stool, which has been vacant for over 12 months following a disputed election held on the 10th of October, 2015 and alleged to be fraudulent and purportedly won by a Police Inspector serving at the Edo State Police Command
The fourth claimant to the stool, Chief Amen Sariki, had filed a suit against the election and prayed the court to disregard the purported election, claiming that the defendant, Inspector Carrol Ebide, was a public servant under the Edo police command and wasn’t qualified according to the constitution.
The presiding judge, Justice Matilda Ayumieye, while delivering judgement on the suit, granted the prayers of the fourth Claimant quashing the decision of the first defendant and all other defendant in the matter to give the position to the un-qualified candidate.
According to the orders “the first defendant of the first set of defendant Inspector Carrol Ebide, being a serving inspector of police is not qualified to contest for or ought to take the position of the paramount ruler of Ayama Ijaw community of Soulthern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State”
“The court also nullified the 2015 election of Amananowei / Paramount ruler seat of Ayama Ijaw held on the 10th of October and any other subsequent action of iilegal coronation of first defendant of the first set of defendant based on the set purported outcome of the said election”
An order is granting that the fourth defendant be presented to the chiefs and elders of Ayama Ijaw community for coronation as the paramount ruler of Ayama Ijaw as he was the only qualified candidate for the election that was held.
An order of perpetual injunction is herby granted restraining the first defendant Inspector Carrol Ebide for parading himself as the paramount ruler/ Amananowei of Ayama Ijaw Community, and also an order restraining all other defendant themselves, agents and supporters for parading Carroll Ebide as the paramount ruler.
A charge of thirty thousand penalty fee was placed on the first defendant, Inspector Carrol Ebide.
Justice Ayumieye, had earlier said the first defendant according to law as a public servant ought not to have contested or otherwise resign before contesting, adding that according to claims the said inspector was never married, does not have furniture in his home as required by the chieftaincy law.
Furthermore, she said the first defendant contravened section 4 of the chieftaincy law of Bayelsa state 2016 that set out the conditions for qualification to the position of a paramount ruler of a community, no person shall be recognise by the Governor as a Chief unless the government certify that the person seeking recognition is not a full time public servant.
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