Court Dismisses Abonema Monarch’s Appeal, Silence Trails Judgment

The legal dispute involving His Royal Majesty, King Disreal Bob-Manuel, the Amayanabo of Abonema, and Alabo David Briggs has taken a decisive turn, following a firm ruling by the appellate court that dismissed the monarch’s appeal in its entirety.

Court records show that the matter originated at the trial court, where King Bob-Manuel filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of a suit brought against him. The case centres on allegations bordering on involvement in sorcery and witchcraft. After hearing submissions from both parties, the trial court overruled the objection, holding that the suit was competent and should proceed to full hearing.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Abonema monarch approached the appellate court, urging it to overturn the decision of the lower court. However, in a clear and unequivocal judgment, the appellate court dismissed the appeal in full, rather than striking it out on technical or procedural grounds.

Legal analysts note that the dismissal effectively affirms the decision of the trial court and brings that phase of the legal contest to a close, clearing the way for the substantive issues in the case to be addressed.
Despite the significance of the ruling, there has been no official response from the Abonema Council of Chiefs or other key stakeholders within the kingdom. The continued silence has sparked discussions among community members and observers, with some questioning the absence of public engagement or clarification in the wake of the court’s definitive position.

As the judicial process appears to have run its course on the appeal, attention is now turning to the traditional institution in Abonema. There are growing calls for leadership, transparency, and constructive engagement to provide direction, preserve unity, and ensure stability within the kingdom amid the ongoing legal controversy.