Anambra: Nkerehi Community Refutes Reports Of Name Change To Umuchukwu

ABUJA – Barr. Basil Igwike, a native of Nkerehi community in Anambra State, has disclosed that the suit marked AG/102/2007, in respect of the change of name of the community to Umuchukwu, is still pending at the Anambra State High Court, Aguata.

Therefore, Igwike has refuted an online report of 10th February 2025, which claimed the Supreme Court had confirmed the change of name of the community from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu, saying the report was “false and misleading”.

The Nkerehi community in Orumba South Local Government Area in Anambra State has been in court since 2007, over the change of name, with a section of the community believing that the name portends a bad omen and has hindered development of the community.

In a statement, Igwike said the issue of the change of name of the Nkerehi community to Umuchukwu is still a subject of litigation stressing that the report was erroneous as the Apex court has not made a pronouncement on the issue.

The court case us between Basil. Igwike & ors against the Governor of Anambra State & ors.

The legal practitioner argued that the Supreme Court only dismissed an interlocutory request for a prohibition order against a referendum for residents of the community and awarded a cost of N500,000 against the applicants, while the matter of the community’s name is still pending before the High Court.

“So, the implication of the Supreme Court ruling in the matter is that the issue of whether the government has the right to conduct a referendum in Nkerehi to change the town’s name has been finally determined as the Appeal Court judgment in the issue stands final.

“The trial court and the 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 its agency can carry out such exercise.

“The order of prohibition was refused by the High Court and the appellants went to the Court of Appeal in which the appeal was dismissed.

“The appellants further appealed to the Supreme Court but when the matter came up on 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.

“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 the Supreme Court affirms the Anambra community name change” Barr. Igwike explained.