Polycarp Sola -Abakaliki
The family of His Royal Highness, the Late Ezeogo Augustine Okwor (Onwa Fuo Igboamaru II of Nkalaha), in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has complained to the Ebonyi State Government over an alleged breach of the States traditional rulers/chieftaincy law.
In a complaint addressed to the Governor of the state, written by the family’s attorney, E. Emeka Anosike & Associates, they alleged abuse of office by the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, saying that the recognition of one Mr. Thompson I. Ebeh on the 1st of October, 2024, as the new traditional ruler of the Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state was not done with due process.
They equally maintained in the petition that the late Ezeogo Augustine Okwor, during his lifetime, was recognized as a traditional ruler of the Nkalaha Autonomous Community on the 26/8/2020 by the former Governor of the State, Engr. David Umahi, “a position he held until his demise on the 24th day of May, 2024, after a brief illness.”.
The family called on the intervention of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on the alleged ill treatment that the late traditional ruler suffered in the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters, which include but are not limited to almost denying him the opportunity to benefit from the government’s housing projects for traditional rulers across the state, as well as how his salary and allowances were stopped without proper procedures, immediately after his demise.
“Your Excellency Sir, it is on a sad note that our clients regret to inform you that they lost their father, HRH Ezeogo Augustine Okwor, on the 24th day of May 2024, and immediately the news of his death filtered into their community, and despite the fact that the government has not been informed officially by the palace, his salary and allowances as a traditional ruler were stopped, and the housing project, whose foundation was later dug, was abruptly stopped as well.
“While our clients’ were still trying to know what was happening, they got the rude shock of their lives on independence day, 1st October 2024, when the news broke out that one Thompson I. Ebeh (their father’s rival in the Ezeship election in 2008) was listed by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to be recognized as a Traditional Ruler without following the Ezeship election/selection process.
” It stated.Other allegations leveled against the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters include an attempt to extort the sum of $2000 USD from the deceased to facilitate the government-approved housing project, as well as accepting bribery of the sum of 20 million naira to recognize Mr. Thompson I. Ebeh as the new traditional ruler.
“Their father visited the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ascertain why the palace building project has not started but was surprised by the demand of the Honourable Commissioner from our clients’ father to pay to him the sum of USD 2,000 before his ministry will direct the contractor in charge of the project to start.
“We are informed that there is a rumor going around in Nkalaha Community that the Honourable Commissioner and other parties involved in this shenanigans were given the sum of N20,000,000.0 (Twenty Million Naira) only to do what they have done.
“And this act of the Honourable Commissioner to unilaterally install a traditional ruler for Nkalaha people is capable of breaching the existing peace in Nkalaha Community because the community has not even been informed officially of the demise of their traditional ruler.”
“From the foregoing, sir, I most humbly pray for your Excellency’s intervention in this matter to accord the late traditional ruler of the Nkalaha autonomous community and her subjects respect and nip in the bud the looming crises that may result from the ill-advised actions of the Honorable Commissioner as stated above.” It stated.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters proved abortive, as his lines were not reachable when our correspondent called him for reactions, and he could not respond to the text messages either.