The award was presented by the then Minister of Communications, General Murtala Muhammed, who later became the Nigerian Military Head of State.
Finally, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V was presented before God in line with the tradition of Church Coronation suggested by the late Queen Victoria of Great Britain in 1878, at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Duke Town Parish in December 2008.
He was crowned by the late legendary Pastor Eyo Edet Okon of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria and admitted into the comity of world Christian Kings as the 78th recognized Monarch of the Efik Eburutu people.
[2] This was contained in a declarative statement by the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary in November 2023, stating that the government recognised Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V as the properly enthroned Obong of Calabar.
The government further warned all interlopers, including a former Minister of Finance, Anthony Ani, to stop bickering as regards the throne.