A. G. KARIBI-WHYTE, J.S.C (Delivering the Leading Judgment): On the 10th April, 1989 the Court below in a unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal of the Appellants from a ruling of Obiesie J, of May 5, 1988 granting plaintiffs an interlocutory injunction restraining the appellant from being crowned as the Eze Nri. This is an appeal against that decision.
The litigation arose in this way. Plaintiffs and the Defendant all belong to Nri Town. Plaintiffs in their affidavit in support of their application ex parte to restrain the appellant from being crowned the Eze Nri, dated 9/2/88 claim to be representing Akamkpisi Village, one of the six villages constituting the Nri Town. It was deposed in the affidavit that the Nri custom is that the selection of the Eze Nri is the responsibility of all the constituent villages. That the Adamas who are the only Kingmakers and who only can crown the Eze Nri, are of Akamkpisi village. It was also deposed that it was against Nri custom for only three of…