Senior Advocate Warns Against Misinformation After Enugu Court Ruling
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Anthony Ani, has issued a stern warning against spreading misinformation that could inflame communal tensions in Enugu North Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State. His caution follows a high court judgment and subsequent media reports that he described as a “misrepresentation” of the court’s actual decision.
The controversy stems from a ruling by the Enugu State High Court, presided over by Justice Cyprian Ogbu Ajah, which last week declared the creation of the Ukwuna Autonomous Community null and void. The suit, filed by two Ogui-Nike autonomous communities, challenged the 2023 establishment of Ukwuna, arguing it was carved out from the existing Enugu-Ngwo community without legal basis. The plaintiffs contended that no entity formally recognised as “Enugu-Ngwo community” exists within Enugu North LGA.
Justice Ajah’s judgment, however, was strictly limited to the issue of due process. The court found the creation of Ukwuna Autonomous Community procedurally defective and therefore invalid. Crucially, Justice Ajah clarified that the dispute was not about the existence of Ngwo indigenous groups or land ownership within the council area.
The situation was exacerbated by a national newspaper headline stating the court had “Confirmed Ngwo not Community in Enugu North LGA.” Representing a set of defendants in the case, SAN Anthony Ani asserted this headline distorted the court’s finding. He explained the judgment merely noted that “Enugu Ngwo Autonomous Community” has never been a legally recognised entity in Enugu North LGA, while explicitly affirming that Ngwo indigenous groups do reside within the area.
Ani warned that the erroneous headline has already fueled misleading narratives on social media, with some claiming the court denied Ngwo’s existence altogether. He condemned attempts to twist the judgment for political or parochial gain, stressing such actions risk igniting unnecessary friction among communities in Enugu North.
The Senior Advocate urged the public and media to accurately report that the court’s ruling focused solely on administrative procedure—the improper creation of Ukwuna Autonomous Community—and not on denying the presence or identity of Ngwo groups. He called for restraint to maintain peace in the region, emphasizing that a clear understanding of the judgment is essential for communal harmony.
The case, marked E/642/2024, serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between administrative actions and community identities. With tensions simmering, stakeholders are now advised to rely on the precise legal pronouncements to avoid escalating the situation based on misinterpretation.
