Contrary to a news report last week that the Supreme Court has endorsed Umuchukwu in the disputed name change of an Anambra community from Nkerehi, reports filtering to the public indicates that the news item is false and does not represent the true position.
A Press statement from the first appellant Barr. Basil Igwike and availed the media, he attacked the information describing it as not only grossly misleading but a piece of junk journalism.
Igwike explained that the matter is still pending at the lower Court in Aguata, adding that the Supreme Court only dismissed a request for a prohibition order and for which it awarded a cost of five hundred thousand Naira(N500,000k) against the appellants.
The lawyer lashing at the biased report queried why the said reporter did not seek the reaction of the appellants after the judgement but instead rushed to the press with only one sided story.
He cautioned news men to be more professional and always balance their report. He also reminded them of the critical role they play in information dissemination which can make or mar a society.
“The publication with the caption “Supreme Court affirms Anambra community name change” sponsored by Dr. Godwin Maduka and published in an Online media on January 10, 2025 is totally false and misleading. The issue of the change of name of Nkerehi community to Umuchukwu is still pending in High court, Aguata in suit No.AG/102/2007 between Barr. Basil Igwike & Ors Vs. The Governor of Anambra State & Ors.
“The community matter that went to Supreme Court is a sort of an interlocutory matter where the Appellants as Applicants approached the High court of Aguata in 2007, praying for an order of prohibition; prohibiting the Local Government commissioner, Mr. Dubem Obaze and other Respondents from conducting referendum in Nkerehi community for the purpose of whether to change the town’s name or not.
“The order of prohibition was refused by the High court and the Appellants went to the Court of Appeal which the appeal was dismissed. The Appellants further appealed to Supreme Court but when the matter came up in January 2025, the Counsel to the Appellants applied to the court for withdrawal of the case and the Respondents without objecting to the application, the Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and awarded cost against the Appellants.
“So the implication of the Supreme Court ruling in the matter is that the issue of whether the government has the right to conduct referendum in Nkerehi for the purposes of changing the town’s name has been finally determined as the Appeal court judgment in the issue stands final. The trial court and court of Appeal are in agreement that the issue of the conduct of a referendum is not a quasi judicial function and therefore the government or it’s agency can carryout such exercise.
“The issue of referendum stands as a process of the name change while the instrument that eventually changed the name being the gazette of the Executive governor of the state is the act itself. So the gazette is the subject of the amended suit in AG/102/2007 which is still pending at the high court. So it is randomly false that Supreme Court affirms Anambra community name change.”
It would be that the Nkerehi community in Orumba South Local Government Area in Anambra State has been locked in a legal battle since 2007 over change of name. A section of the community led by Dr. Godwin Maduka reportedly manipulated a name change because according to them, the name portend bad omen and hinders development.
Another group who want the original and ancestral Nkerehi name, maintained it did not accept their action, reason for the series of court actions.
