Economy
History: Why The Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
History: Why The Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
History: Why the Obong of Calabar is called the Treaty King. Many people do not know that hundreds of years before Nigeria was created, the Efik kings ruled as sovereign nations — respected and recognized by the British Crown itself.
The rulers of Old Calabar signed two historic treaties with Great Britain — first in 1841, and again in 1884 — not as slaves or subjects, but as co-heads of government in their own right.
The first treaty was The 1841 Anti–Slave Trade Treaty.
It was signed by King EYAMBA V of Duke Town and King EYO HONESTY II of Creek Town. It was the treaty where the Efik kings voluntarily renounced slave trading within their territories. The British signatory was the Naval Commander Captain BEECROFT— the same man after whom Beecroft Street in Calabar is named.
With this treaty, both nations pledged to encourage lawful trade especially in palm oil, ivory, and other local produce. British ships were automatically granted safe passage through Calabar waters, and both sides agreed to maintain peace and friendship. This made Old Calabar the first West African state to officially abolish the slave trade by treaty.
In 1884 Treaty of Protection was signed on September 10, 1884 this time by King ARCHIBONG III, King EYO HONESTY VII, and leading Efik chiefs, with British Consul Edward HEWETT (after whom Hewett Street in Calabar is named) representing Great Britain. Below are key articles from that treaty:
Article I:
“Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, in compliance with the requests of the Kings, Chiefs, and people of Old Calabar, hereby undertakes to extend to them, and to the territory under their authority and jurisdiction, her gracious favour and protection.”
Article II:
“The Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar agree and promise to refrain from entering into any correspondence, Agreement, or Treaty with any foreign nation or Power, except with the knowledge and sanction of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government.”
The 1884 Treaty placed Efik territories under British protection while preserving the sovereignty of the Efik throne. The British, in turn, guaranteed defense against external threats — meaning, if the Efiks went to war, British soldiers would fight beside them. It was this strong alliance that gave rise to the saying: “Efik edi Mbakara” — the Efik is as powerful as the white man. It may even have inspired the old Efik war song:
🎶 “Ima’i wot owo, Mbakara eye’kpe”.

Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
During the Bakassi Peninsula case: Nigeria vs Cameroon, this very 1884 Treaty document was presented by Nigeria to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the Bakassi Peninsula case, to prove that Bakassi is Efik land under the traditional authority of the Obong of Calabar refuting Cameroon’s claim over Bakassi because the people had no traditional rule under Cameroon.
And so, to this day, the Obong of Calabar bears the title “The Treaty King.”
So I present to you;
His Eminence,
Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V
OBONG of Calabar,
Grand Patriarch of the Efik Kingdom,
TREATY KING.
Defender of the Christian Faith.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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