Prof. Azinge, President, Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal, London, is new Asaba monarch

Prof. Epiphany Azinge, the President of the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal sitting in London, has emerged as the Asaba monarch-designate in the Delta State capital.

When he is crowned, he will be the 14th Asagba of the Asaba Kingdom.

Azinge, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has had an illustrious career, previously serving as the 5th Director-General of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

Persecondnews reports that the legal icon had successfully outpaced nine other prominent sons of Asaba in the highly competitive selection process for the revered throne.

The Asagba-in-Council announced in Asaba that Prof. Azinge stood out as the top choice for the esteemed position.

The contenders hail from Ugbomanta Quarters, whose turn it is, of the five quarters (ebos) of Asaba Kingdom, to produce the next Asagba, who will succeed Obi (Prof.) Chike Joseph Edozien, the 13th Asagba of Asaba, who had joined his ancestors earlier in the year.

The Ochendo Ahaba (Regent), Dr. Anthony Edozien, announced the result of the selection process in line with the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, applicable to Delta State, at the former Palace of the Asagba of Asaba at Ezenei Quarters in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The Asagba-in-waiting began his rigorous journey on the 5th of August, 2024, with the stage-by-stage steps in line with the tradition and customs of the Ahaba (Asaba) people, concluding with the procession to the Udo sacred ‘ekpele”, secluded traditional ground where the indigenous anklet adorning, known as “eli li ukwu”, took place.

The wife of the Asagba, Dr. Valerie Azinge (SAN), will receive the esteemed title of Okpoho Eze, in keeping with Asaba’s rich cultural heritage.