SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES IN AWKUNANAW

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES :

I am not sure but this may be applicable to all Okunano Osagwede communities. The settlement of dispute amongst family members within a given community in Okunano is the responsibility of every member of the family. It is usually an all male affair.

The first one I witnessed in my immediate family was the case of a certain Onye ishzi and Nwanneta who could not resolve the sharing of their inheritance between them.

The closest family circle waded in to the matter. Such cases are usually deliberated on in the evenings and in the early hours of the mornings.

Firstly, the complaining party (who may have attracted the gathering) will state his case followed by the defending party. This process may change assuming the family elders summoned the quarreling parties. In such case, the eldest of the parties will state his case before the younger Will do the same.

So in this case, it was the Nwanneta who called the gathering that stated his own side first. His complaints were that his elder brother having taken the " Ihu eshzi" (their main compound) and the biggest, out of the two plots of land they had inherited from their father, now wants to share the smaller plot with him.

When he was done, his elder brother(the Onye ishzi) explained that the"Ihu eshzi" was his right as the eldest son. The other Land he took was also his right by way of" itu-eka" Now he shared the smaller plot into two halves and asked his Nwanneta to choose from the two halves.

The both parties having stated their difference sides to the matter were now subjected to questions from any body amongst the family who is deliberating on the case. After the question and answer session is done, the quarreling parties was asked to step aside for the family to deliberate on the case

izizi or the interval for deliberation :

As soon as the quarreling parties have left the chamber or the circle of family members, the deliberation is started.

The eldest member of the family will say a prayer, summoning the spirits of other departed elders of the family to come and join the deliberation.

He will also go as far as cautioning the deliberating members with words like " okwu bu "oke Chi-ukwu, Onye kwute mma osôrû ya, ekwuté njo osôrú ghu"  this statement is a reminder that each member who must speak or stand as a witness to the matter should be aware that if their contributions are good, it will be returned to them and if they speak evil it will also be returned to them accordingly.

The deliberation entails the consideration of many references to the matter, other similar cases, how it was resolved. The dangers of giving a bad verdict so  as not to appear as biased or siding with one against the other. Everyone has a right to contribute here so as to achieve a good decision that will promote peace and harmony.
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Verdict:

After the deliberation, the quarreling parties were called back into the chamber or circle for the family's decision.

To deliver the verdict, no body amongst the family is allowed to go out until the verdict is finally delivered and the quarreling parties responded.

In this particular case, the eldest member of the family cleared his throat for quite a good number of times.

Before saying a little prayer, as soon as he starts to deliver his speech, he paused suddenly, looking around the chamber or circle of family members. He calls one person by name and asked him to finish the job.

Usually the person chosen must have been waiting, he is such a person who is noted for an exceptional character value, especially " integrity" sometimes, some are chosen for their eloquence.

The decision taken for this very case I cited here was for the Onye ishzi to leave the smaller plot of land for his brother.

Responding, he refused and moved the case up by attracting other members of our extended family members who gave the same verdict.

He kept on appealing on the verdict until the Umunna family meeting mandated him to comply and accept that verdict or  be ostracized from all the family's associations.

……to be continued.