Our attention has been drawn to a publication, here-above
referred, by Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie published in Vanguard online of May 21,
2020.
At best, his article may generously be termed his role in
the Idumuje-Ugboko crisis otherwise it is a mere tale to ingratiate and
celebrate himself and his perceived role in the fratricidal crisis.
IS GABRIEL AN IMPARTIAL ARBITER?
No question, when history opens the pages of this crisis for
generations to come, they will surely squint with acute concern because
Ogbechie's role will loudly be tainted with cruel miscarriage of justice.
Certainly not a stainless umpire or arbiter.
On the surface, the flow of his thoughts and presentation
may hold the uninformed and innocent readers captive and thus persuaded to
believe that Ogbechie, who also hails from our dear Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom did
not stand aloof over the three to four years of our intense crisis. Indeed,
Ogbechie didn't stand aloof. He enunciated his meetings with Prince Hon. Ned
Nwoko, an illustrious son of the community, who he supposes that his consent to
Ogbechie’s peace pursuits would automatically lead to the granting of Staff of
Office to Prince Chukwunonso Justin Nwoko whose kingship ambition remains
Ogbechie's sole agendum. Need we tell him it is more complex, more complicated
and more intricate than that?
By his presentation, Ogbechie tried albeit unsuccessfully,
to wear the garb of an impartial arbiter in the soul-pricking crisis that has
distressed our once safe and serene community. Unfortunately, this is not so.
Persons close to the issues and involved in other efforts to resolve the crisis
know that Ogbechie is not and cannot be an innocent umpire. In succinct terms,
Gabriel is an otherwise respectable son of Idumuje-Ugboko who has now been
severely diminished unfortunately by his glaring unholy alliance with those who
carried out horrifying savage attacks on the supporters of the Hon. Prince Ned
Nwoko for attempting to build a university in Idumuje-Ugboko in Anioma Land.
Therefore, embarking on pilgrimages to Abuja for meetings with Prince Ned is
only a facade or to serve as a weak testimony to his messianic claims.
Let's carry out a little scrutiny, a dissection of
Ogbechie's role in the crisis.
A BRIEF SCRUTINY OF
THE CRISIS AND OGBECHIE'S ACTION AND INACTION.
A CRUCIAL MEETING SABOTAGED.
On 31st of March, 2017, Gabriel Ogbechie hosted a meeting of
Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union's stakeholders at his house in the village.
Here, at the end of discussions, a Fact-Finding Committee was set-up to look at
the immediate and remote causes of the brewing crisis in the community, with
Chief, Architect Paul as Chairman of the committee. Gabriel Ogbechie was a prominent member of
this committee amongst other members. The committee subsequently fixed a
meeting of parties to the dispute for April 21, 2017. But, guess what?
Just before this crucial meeting could hold, Gabriel
Ogbechie and his team sabotaged their own arrangement by causing to be
published and indeed published, a two page advertorial of false information in
Vanguard Newspaper of 21st April, 2017. The publication in terse language
passed a corrosive judgement that passed a guilty verdict on Prince Hon. Ned
Nwoko and supporters of his proposed
university to be sited in the community . This primitive and
pre-meditated judgement held them guilty of masterminding the then brewing
crisis without the opportunity of fair hearing.
And to think the same Prince Ned Nwoko had been invited to present his
own side of the story at that meeting and to which he had indicated willingness
to attend.
Gabriel Ogbechie and all the members of this committee were
all signatories to the said advertorial published by the Okey Ifejoku led
IUDU-NEC. It was not only a tragic case of hypocrisy and betrayal of a
collective cause, it was both an embarrassing and shameful show of crass enmity
directed at one man whose only sin was his decision to site a University in his
home town. Prince Ned Nwoko flew in gallantly from Abuja to attend that
seemingly critical and hope inspiring meeting, only to find out it had been
preempted, rendered fait-accompli by the supposed champions of peace. Idumuje-Ugboko kingdom shuddered at this
brazen display of animosity. And Gabriel Ogbechie, the man who published the
recent epistle of peace in Vanguard was there. And played a pivotal role in
both the publication and botched meeting.
THE SEVEN DAYS OF BARBARIC VIOLENCE AND OGBECHIE'S ROLE.
For seven days, Idumuje-Ugboko famed serenity was shattered
by brutish and gory violence. Our people froze at an unprecedented echo of pain
from barbaric violence and blood-shed. Since that May 18 – 25, 2017 mayhem in
Idumuje-Ugboko, Gabriel Ogbechie has not found it expedient to associate with
any member of the over 29 victims of the bloodbath. But, he has been financing and paying the
bills and legal fees of the aggressors, murderers without conscience, who have
been charged to Court in Nigeria to give account of their savagery.
FOR OGBECHIE, IT IS NONSO BY ALL MEANS.
For Ogbechie, Nonso must be king. It doesn't matter to him
what anyone else says or the court rules. His consistent, strident and
sometimes hysterical calls to any relevant authority is for Prince Nonso to be
given Staff of Office. Even when there
are subsisting litigations against that in the court of Law and an injunction
restraining such permission, they mean profound nothing to our dear brother.
Yet Ogbechie's "Perspectives" in Vanguard says he is a neutral figure
interested in the actualization of the university as well as Prince Chukwunonso
getting his Staff of Office. There is certainly a deep seated tinge of
insincerity here that could lead to a gentleman's self immolation. It is sad.
RUMOURS OF DESPERATION AND CORRUPTION.
There is no question that Ogbechie has exhibited desperation
in his quest to legitimize Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko as Obi of
Idumuje-Ugboko. It therefore did not
come as a shock when news sneaked into Idumuje-Ugboko and spread like wildfire,
alleging that the oil magnate attempted compromising the traditional rulers
through a Local Government Council Chairman with an offer of a staggering
amount of money for our respectable traditional rulers to expedite the
endorsement of Prince Chukwunonso Justin Nwoko for a Staff of Office as Obi of
Idumuje-Ugboko. But our royal fathers are elders of untrammeled integrity and
naturally they frowned seriously at this unbridled show of desperation fully
aware there were not only cases pending in court but there are two other
contestants to the throne.
PRINCE NED REMAINS INNOCENT AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.
We make bold to say that the Idumuje-Ugboko crisis which
began in 2017 is not as a result of the legitimately allocated 90 hectares of
land by the appropriate authority in Idumuje-Ugboko to a prominent son of the
soil, Prince Ned Nwoko whose application for land like any other indigene with
noble intentions for development came up in 2015 and was duly analyzed,
scrutinized and his project investigated before approval was duly given by the
Land Allocation Committee, by the Obi and his principal chiefs, by the four
federating villages and by the Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union (IUDU).
Absolute due process.
It was after a detailed, excruciating due process that the
application was approved, signed, sealed and delivered by HRM Obi Albert Nwoko
III, PhD,JP, MON on 10th day of April, 2015 with a letter dated 10th April,
2015 and addressed to Linas International Limited through Prince Ned Nwoko
confirming same. So you ask, is Gabriel Ogbechie not aware of these processes
the application went through before it was approved. We ask because in his ' impartial ' epistle
in Vanguard, he suggested that Prince Ned Nwoko should go and search for
another land elsewhere. He feigned ignorance of the approval and even all the
failed court cases by “his king”, Prince Chukwunonso in his bid to stop the
University project. How could Ogbechie audaciously tell the world that people
owned lands at the area mapped out for the University? Are they not areas
preserved for development projects since the end of the 1956 – 1969 Land tussle
between Idumuje-Ugboko and her neighbouring community of Onicha-Ugbo which
ended with an Out-Of-Court settlement- judgement in 1969 with the final survey
of the area conducted through the efforts of the two communities by the then
Midwestern Government in 1971. How
impartial could our dear brother Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie be? And he said he is
Ned's brother and friend. Yet, he feigned ignorance and maintained a deafening
silence when injustice was on the prowl and his brother and friend was the sole
target.
ENTER FAKE AND FRAUDULENT LETTERS STILL TARGETED AT NO ONE
BUT PRINCE NED BECAUSE OF A UNIVERSITY.
Again on August 12, 2015, Idumuje-Ugboko woke up to some
strange letters protesting the process of the land allocation. It was the
handiwork of Prince Chukwunonso, Prince Richard Obiajulu Nwoko and Prince
Fredrick Ejimofor Nwoko. But the signatures on the letters were purportedly
that of Obi Albert Nwoko III. This shocking letters proclaimed lack of
knowledge of the processes leading to the agreements and allocation of the 90
hectares of land to Linas International Ltd as requested for the establishment
of a university and a golf course in Idumuje-Ugboko . The village stood still
as these insidious letters flew from church to shops and markets.
On receipt of this letter, some persons decided to verify
the validity of the two letters dated 10th April, 2015 and 12th August, 2015
which were now contradicting themselves – the letter of Approval and The Letter
of Denial. Every attempt to speak with the Obi were blocked by Prince
Chukwunonso Nwoko who had already sidelined the Obi and assumed the Obi’s
functions even while the Obi was still alive and well, through the help of his
private secretary and security men who would tell any callers at the palace
including the Obi’s High Chiefs that the Obi was unavailable. Even Prince Ned
who was the Obi's main benefactor, paying his medical bills and all, could not
reach him. The king's phone had been seized by Prince Chukwunonso. Rendering
the king incommunicado and the consequent frustrations led to the petition
by a former two-term President-General
of Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union (IUDU) on 14th September, 2015 inviting the
Nigeria Police to investigate the validity or otherwise of both letters and
claims of the Obi’s state of availability.
The result of the investigations as released by the Police
Authorities on 24th February, 2016, was the indictment of some members of the
Royal family including Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko, Prince Richard Obiajulu Nwoko
and Prince Fredrick Ejimofor Nwoko for forgery and fraudulent procurement of
the document dated 12th August, 2015 alleging the denial of knowledge of the
Obi of the processes of the allocation of land for the university project, and
also for conspiracy and acts capable of inciting the community to breach of
public peace. They were subsequently charged to court by the State for criminal
activities and the matters are still ongoing in court.
If you read Ogbechie's
"The Quest for Peace in Idumuje-Ugboko", you wouldn't help but
ask, where was he when all these were happening. What role did he play to check a simmering
injustice? He didn't even mute such a cruel quest to stop one man, Prince Ned,
in his long epistle. How can an impartial peace seeker turn his back on a crude
act of injustice? We must allow truth and justice to penetrate the car apace of
our conscience no matter how hard we are.
THE SERIAL COURT SUITS WITHOUT A SINGLE VICTORY--YET GABRIEL
OGBECHIE REMAINED SILENT.
In January, 2016, Prince Chukwunonso and four other members
of the royal family including Prince Richard Obiajulu Nwoko, Prince Fredrick
Ejimofor Nwoko, Prince Edwin Ezionyeunor Nwoko and Prince Dennis Uwadiegwu
Nwoko instituted a Civil Suit at the Issele-Uku High Court with Suit No:
HCI/2/2016 against Aniocha North LGC, Prince Ned Nwoko and Linas International
for themselves and on behalf of the Obi and Umu-Omorhusi Family excluding
Prince Ned Nwoko challenging the collective decision of the community on the
allocation of the Idumuje-Ugboko Development Land to Linas International Limited for the
university project.
It is worthy of note that on 3rd June of 2016, Prince Edwin
Izeonyeunor Nwoko in a Deposition before the High Court withdrew from the case
on the grounds that he was deceived by Prince Chukwunonso and others into believing that the Obi
mandated them to institute the case, only for him to find out the Obi was not
aware of the suit, neither did he give anyone power of attorney to sue on his
behalf or on behalf of the Umu-Omorhusi family. Of further note is paragraph
six of the said 3rd June, 2016 affidavit, here reproduced in part “That it was
on our personal agreement, volition, belief and conviction that necessitated
the institution of this case”. Before this, paragraph five of the same
affidavit states and we here also reproduce, “That there was no proper
authority earlier issued mandating the claimants including me to institute this
case against the Defendants”.
AND THE PRINCE LOSES.
On June 18, 2019, Prince Chukwunonso lost the the civil suit
No. HCI/12/2019 at Agbor High Court. He again sued the police, obtaining
injection to stop investigation of his father's death.
Now he has lost this case. The police is coming back and Obi
Nwoko III's body may be exhumed for autopsy. It is a massive victory for the
wives. More on this below.
AGAIN PRINCE NONSO LOSES AFTER THE REIGN OF TERRORISM.
After the mayhem in Idumuje-Ugboko, the law went after them including Prince
Chukwunonso and his gang with criminal proceedings opened against them
at the Chief Magistrate Court Asaba. But trying to cheat justice, they ran to a
Vacation Judge in Delta State High Court , Effurun to obtain an order for
Enforcement of their Fundamental Rights in a suit No. EHC/M/74/2017. This was
in 2017. But they couldn't hide under the law or abuse it for too long. The
case was dismissed and struck out at the Agbor High Court where it had been
moved on the 3rd of June, 2019.
Prince Chukwunonso LOST!!
Now, the alleged terrorists have to face the full weight of
the law. And the law will go its full course.
NOW, we ask this critical questions. How is it that our brother, Gabriel Ifeanyi
Ogbechie was only going to Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko? How is it that he never
advised “his king”, Prince Chukwunonso to stop his forum shopping and
irritating frivolous suits, especially as he has been a serial loser. Yes,
Gabriel heard the cases. He attended to alleged terrorists but maintained
incredulous silence about the victims and the lives lost. What an arbiter!
AND THE KING MAKES HIS SUDDEN AND SOLEMN TRANSITION....AND
THE WIVES ARE THROWN OUT.
Enter the 2017 violent crisis following the sudden exit of
HRM Obi Albert Nwoko III, PhD, JP, MON; Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko under mysterious
circumstances on February the 6th, 2017.
Strange things happened. Things that were at best an
aberration, taboo, totally out of conformity with the traditions and cultural
norms of the Idumuje-Ugboko kingdom and by extension the entire Anioma Land.
These include the hasty burial of the departed Obi in the eerie hours of the
night without his wives identifying the corpse was that of their husband and
performing their traditional rituals for their departed husband as tradition
permits. The purported self-installation of a new Obi less than an hour after
the midnight purported burial, to the exclusion of the appropriate traditional
figures and in total abhorrence of installation rituals. This led inevitably to the petition by Queen
Ifeoma Nwoko and Queen Faith Okwukwe Nwoko, wives of the demised Obi Albert
Okwuwadiegwu Nwoko III to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, IGP, with
copies addressed to the Local Government Chairman and the Traditional Rulers
committee accusing their stepson Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko and three other
members of the Royal family of sinister motives ,hidden agenda and manipulation
of the dead.
STOPPING THE POLICE FROM INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SURROUNDING HIS FATHER'S DEATH.
Once the news spread everywhere and then reached the Prince
that the police had started investigating circumstances surrounding the sudden
death of the Obi and the ghoulish drama of his burial, Prince Chukwunonso and
his co-travellers quickly scampered to the court to obtain an injunction
stopping the police from investigating the circumstances surrounding Obi
Nwoko's death, a fall out of the wives' petition. Then we ask...If Prince
Chukwunonso's hands were clean, why would he use the court to stop the police
from investigating circumstances surrounding his father's death. Shouldn't he
gladly encourage and support it? Instead he forced his father's wives out of
the palace, leaving them to their fate.
These issues were subject matters in every family's discussion and even
gossip in Idumuje-Ugboko.
Yet Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie claimed he attended the Obi's
burial and the social events that followed.
What event? Was the Iyese, the Traditional Prime Minister and second in
ranking to the late Obi there? Was the
Odogwu, the Traditional Defense Minister there? Was the Eze-Dibie, -Chief
Priest- Ojeanyegbe Sunday Ochei there? If the highest ranking Chiefs and Chief
Priest of the community were not present at any ceremony at all concerning the
king, doesn't it portend something wrong? And Gabriel Ogbechie was there. As
who? The Iyese, Odogwu, Eze-Dibie or who? What questions did he ask? What role
did he play as a harbinger of peace to pull back his village from the brink?
Did he call the Iyese, Odogwu, Eze-Dibie or Prince Ned Nwoko to ask what was
going on. Our brother, Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie didn't because he had taken
sides and because he had his own personal agenda, a matter for another day.
THE GROUSOME GANG RAPE OF A MINOR...RIGHT INSIDE THE PALACE.
If Mr. Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie was so interested in palace
affairs as he has demonstrated, how is it that the violent gang rape of a 14
year old girl right inside the palace didn't prick his conscience? Oh, he didnt hear? And he is so close to
Prince Chukwunonso? Yes, because the
barbaric rapist who owned up out of the many is one of those close to Prince
Chukwunonso and perpetually in the palace.
Rather than prosecute these animal, Prince Chukwunonso sent someone to
the police to stop the investigation with the claim that it was a mutual affair
gone sour.
If it was mutual how was it that the village fined the
violent animal-rapist and that was all his punishment, a goat and refund of
N100.000 medical bill. The poor little girl was left to suffer the humiliation
and psychological trauma alone. Till today, four years after and now in the
University, she shudders whenever she is alone and sees a man approaching.
Tragic to say the list. A timeless injustice to an innocent soul, a minor, just
14 years.
This was a case that attracted International Federation of
Women Lawyers.
Everyone in Idumuje-Ugboko heard, yes everyone. But not our
brother Gabriel. Truth is there are
things that men of conscience must deal with. It is not within our powers to
judge Gabriel our brother but we owe him a duty in this instance to bring him
face to face with some stinging and irreversible truth because the roles we
play in this planet will decide whether we end up on history's glorious
centrespread or its footnotes.
DEFYING OUR RESPECTABLE ROYAL FATHERS AND THE MAJESTY OF
TRADITION.
The Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee met on March
the 5th, 2017 with both parties in attendance and in their recommendations,
they advised that both parties go back home and resolve their differences in
line with the tradition, custom, norms and culture of the people of
Idumuje-Ugboko.
PRINCE CHUKWUNONSO DEFIED OUR FATHERS AND STILL LOST THE
CASE.
Rather than heed this
wise counsel of the Natural Rulers, Prince Barr. Felix Mbanefo Nwoko in a
four-page petition firet to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, then to the
Assistant Inspector-General Zone 5, Benin-City and finally to the
Inspector-General of Police on behalf of Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko, Richard
Obiajulu Nwoko and Fredrick Ejimofor Nwoko, alleged among other things; Threat
to Life, Harassment, Intimidation,
desecration etc against Prince Ned Nwoko, Chief Christopher Ogwu (Iyese of
Idumuje-Ugboko), Chief Sunday Edemodu (Odogwu of Idumuje-Ugboko), Prince
Walters Onyeisi Ugochukwu Eziashi (former Two-Term President-General of IUDU),
Late Mr. Bennet Odor (immediate past President-General of IUDU) and Mr. Kennedy
Nedu Illoh (secretary Land Allocation Committee and former IUDU Taskforce
Committee Chairman). These persons were invited by the Police, granted bail,
investigated and later exonerated. An arraignment notice was subsequently
served on Prince Chukwunonso Justin Nwoko by the Police Authorities for false
information. Till date Prince Chukwunonso has evaded this arraignment.
Yet, Gabriel Ogbechie presented Prince Chukwunonso as an
innocent man being hounded by the police. He expected him to send the police on
a wild goose chase with a parochial petition and the police returning to hug
him and take a bow. Of course there is a caustic measure reserved for
fraudulent petitions and Prince Chukwunonso is certainly not above the law.
CONTENSION FOR THE THRONE.
Aside these chains of events, there has been Supremacy
battle for the throne since the demise on February 6. 2017 of HRM Obi Albert
Nwoko III, Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko between two families with three candidates;
Prince Chukwunonso Justin Nwoko, Prince Uche Nwoko and Prince Solomon
Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko. These three candidates have valid claims in their
own rights and beliefs on the throne and their claims are matters of
litigations before the courts and it is ongoing hence needed no further
dwelling on here.
But Gabriel Ogbechie's article with confounding fact-deficit
tells his readers that there is no contention for the thrown. Need we say more
on this?
PRINCE CHUKWUNONSO'S
PUNITIVE MEASURES AND THE BOOMERANG.
While the process of arraignment was still ongoing, Prince
Chukwunonso and his men entered a new and higher level of hostilities against
the community. They began to excommunicate indigenes with perceived divergent
views. First the high-ranking Chiefs, some members of the Royal family
including but not limited to Prince Ned Nwoko, Prince Daniel Nwoko, Prince
Akaba Nwoko, Prince Edwin Nwoko, Diokpa Prince Onwuamaonyeukwu Esuzor Nwoko,
Prince Uche Nwoko, Prince Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko, Queen Faith
Okwukwe Nwoko, Queen Ifeoma Nwoko wives of the departed Obi and their children
etc and members of the community who they suspected could be against their inordinate
desire for power.
It was in this chaotic atmosphere that Prince Chukwunonso
Nwoko and his men attempted to convene a meeting of the town (Izu-Ani), the
highest ruling body of the community on the 18th day of May, 2017 with an
intention to legalize these illegalities.
Of course, the community did not approve of such meeting in
the absence of a king which Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko was not,and so the high-ranking Chiefs and other traditional
institutions such as the Ikpala-Ani, Eze-Dibie and Ndi-Dibie etc who ought to attend the meeting as demanded
by tradition stayed away. In fact these were people and institutions Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko
claimed he had excommunicated and abolished from the processes of
administration in the community contrary to traditions. And by their absence
the Izu Ani was dead on arrival. And Prince Chukwunonso and his kingship
ambition therefore remained a scandal and an odious aberration.
A FULL BLOWN
TERRORISM.
On the night of 18th May, 2017, all hell was let loose,
Prince Chukwunonso, his financiers, agents and privies unleashed mayhem in a
terrorist frenzy through their trained thugs called youths, hired militia who
were imported from far and near. This invasion lasted till the 25th May, 2017.
During the invasion, the gang of terrorists chanting war
songs unleashed on the community began their attacks of the previous leaders in
the kingdom. These include the vigilante group ably led by Peter Bama who was
beaten black and blue, dragged round the town in his birthday suit and forced
to lead them to homes of the other vigilante members one by one where the
double barrel guns and bullets provided the vigilante members by the community
for protection were captured and carted away by the hoodlums up till date. They
equally made away with the security transportation (motorcycles) acquired for
mobility and quick response to distress calls by the vigilantes for the
effective community policing of the town.
Furthermore, they attacked individuals at their homes. The
secretary of the land allocation committee and then Chairman of the IUDU
Taskforce Committee, Mr. Kennedy Nedu Illoh was abducted from his home and
dragged to the palace and beaten to intimidate and humiliate him to submit his
loyalty to Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko. Kennedy Illoh never recovered from this
inhuman torture as he died thereafter as a result of this inhuman experience.
By morning, the attacks continued with increasing hostility.
Chief Chris Ogwu, the Iyese (Traditional Prime Minister) of Idumuje-Ugboko was
attacked at his home and abducted to the palace after his two cars parked in
front of his house were thoroughly vandalized, his house broken into and vital
documents including his valuables stolen by the armed gang. At the palace, he
was flogged, forced to lie down on the floor and severely beaten in front of
Prince Chukwunonso and his men who were watching and enjoying the pains, agony
and humiliation of the traditional Prime Minister by the hired assailants. The
Iyese was lucky not to have been killed, but till date he is still suffering
the physical and psychological effects of the trauma.
Chief Sunday Edemodu, the Odogwu of Idumuje-Ugboko was not
spared the misdirected wrath of this gang. They invaded his home at night,
damaged his house and looted his valuables. This attack has left him partially
disabled battling with complicated health challenges which till date he is
still laboring under.
Mr. Victor Omezi, an illustrious son of the community from
Atuma village of Idumuje-Ugboko narrowly escaped death because at the time the
hoodlums evaded his home, he was not at home as he had earlier that evening
traveled out of town. But his home and properties therein were not spared the
viciousness of the gang. The hoodlums set his building ablaze expecting to burn
the entire building after the looting of most of his valuables including cash
and very valuable imported artifacts but for the quick intervention of his
security personnel and family and vigilant neighbours.
It is the same gory stories of wanton destructions, looting.
Arson, beating, humiliation in over twenty-nine (29) other homes in the
community as recorded by both the Nigerian Police and National Human Rights
Commission who visited the community to see things for themselves. But for the
re-enforcement of the security agencies that arrived the community late 25th
May, 2017, the calamity brought upon our community by Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko
and his financiers and men perhaps would have been more colossal.
While these frenzy terrorism and man’s inhumanity to man
continued unchallenged as the indigenes were hapless and helpless on the face
of blatant unprovoked attack, these bandits released their gun bullets most
freely on both human being and domestic animals around as their conceit grew in
the absence of any counter attacks. It was in this frenzy that the hoodlums
shot at one Mr. Cyprian Kumiolu, a young okada rider and life was sniffed out
of him. He was murdered in cold blood in front of the palace by the hired
bandits in a bid to please Prince Chukwunonso Justin Nwoko. Cyprian Kumiolu’s
corpse according to eye-witnesses was removed from the palace in a wheelbarrow
by one of the arrested suspects already standing trials to the market square
and at midnight the corpse was taken away to an unknown location by persons
close to the palace.
Till date the body of this young Benue State indigene has
not been found and every other week since May, 2017 his father who recently
appeared before the Obi of Owa Peace Committee on a
fact-finding-meet-the-victims meeting at the palace of the Obi of Idumuje-Unor
mid-March, 2020, has been pleading with Idumuje-Ugboko to release the corpse of
his son to him for burial. Painful enough, the young man was not only murdered
in cold blood, his motorcycle was set ablaze and burnt to ashes. What a gory
story of man’s inhumanity to man!
Throughout this reign of terror in our dear village, we
didn't hear the voice of Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie. In his Vanguard publication
he claimed the palace was invaded to abort an Izu-Ani meeting. Who could have
sent the thugs? Of course Prince Ned was not in the village on the said 18th
May, 2017 or any date in May of 2017. We were winning all the cases in court.
So, why would you leave a legal advantage to resort to violence. Does it make sense? Is it logical?
Shockingly, Gabriel Ogbechie dismissed the murder of the
innocent okada (motorcycle) boy. He practically depicted it as mere drama. He
probably did his own investigation and drew his own conclusions. And he is a
neutral peace seeker. As at today, Bench warrants have been issued by the
courts against eleven (11) of the suspects. Of this number, four (4) have been
apprehended and charged formally, seven (7) others including the Chief
Tormentors Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko and Prince Dennis Uwadiegwu Nwoko are still
at large.
SO, WE ASK THESE QUESTIONS!
1. How could Gabriel Ogbechie gloss over the reign of terror
in Idumuje-Ugboko in 2017 and the fact that Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko’s thugs
unlawfully killed two people?
2. The trial of the
suspects are at various stages in the courts, while Gabriel overtly concerns
himself with the plight of the suspects and not the victims?
3. Has Gabriel ever
visited or discussed with any of the victims of the May, 2017 attacks?
We know that he visits the culprits charged with the various
offenses and pays for their legal fees and other costs. This assumption became
plausible when Gabriel in his publication admitted that he “made an effort in
December 2019, through a member of the Royal family, to get proper legal
representation” for some of the suspects. An unbiased neutral observer and
peace-maker indeed.
TALES FROM GABRIEL'S MEETING WITH NED.
Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie further noted that he met with Hon. Ned
Nwoko in his (Ned) house in Abuja on Monday 15th May 2017. While it is true
that Gabriel visited, very reliable sources close to Ned affirmed emphatically
that the Hon. Prince did not express any views on the kingship tussle in
Idumuje-Ugboko not to mention disclosing to Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie who the
rightful person to ascend the throne was.
In another weird account of his meeting with Ned, Gabriel
Ogbechie also claimed that Chukwunonso Nwoko “alleged that Hon. Ned Nwoko
approached the past King in 1999/2000 with a request for thirty-three (33)
hectares of land to build a Cattle Ranch and Dairy Farm. The late king
excitedly allocated the 33 hectares of land to Hon. Ned Nwoko for free, to use
for industrialization. Hon. Ned Nwoko took the land and built his personal
house on it. Seventeen years afterwards, no cattle ranch nor dairy farm has
been developed”. This is a bloated lie.
The hard truth is that Prince Ned Nwoko effectively utilized
the 33 hectares which actually is behind his house and not where Gabriel
claimed it is located in his Abuja tales of meetings with Ned. Gabriel's story
here shows he has no clue about the facts but merely disseminates a hear-say.
It is disturbing and ironical because Gabriel was actually using Ned's sports
facilities at his house before he, Gabriel built his own village house. So, he never took time or he was too eager to
please Chukwunonso and so couldn't seek simple facts.
The truth is the 33 hectares is behind Mount Ned, the
authentic African architectural master-piece.
Prince Ned indeed brought in five hundred (500) cows for the dairy farm
but unfortunately they died one after the other until they all perished. Those
involved in dairy business can attest to how delicate it could be. He therefore diverted to fish farming,
poultry and a zoo which continues to attract foreign and local tourists to
Idumuje-Ugboko. Part of the land has
also been utilized for the ongoing STARS university project, in Idumuje-Ugboko.
THE LAND AND THE UNIVERSITY MATTER IS A CLOSED CHAPTER.
It bears emphasis to state that the land allocation document
for the University and golf project was signed by the Chiefs and
representatives from each of the four (4) villages in Idumuje-Ugboko, the same
people who allocated land for Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie’s Petrol Station and residential
home at Idumuje-Ugboko amongst over two hundred (200) others including Prince
Martin Ezedimbu Nwoko, Late Elder Clement Okeleke Anizor, Prince Willy Eziani
Nwoko, Engr. Goode Omezi, Mr. Uche Aligbe etc. The Land Allocation Committee is
not a new issue in Idumuje-Ugboko. It has served generations of indigenes
creditably.
Why is Prince Ned's case different? Why will one Prince
place himself on a destructive pedestal by defying the collective decision of a
people under his father's leadership? Why does he think he could assume the
role of an Emperor in Idumuje-Ugboko ?
Yet men like Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie can't tell him the truth no matter
how bruising.
NED WILL NEVER GIVE BRIBE OVER HIS LAND...TOTALLY AGAINST
HIS VALUES
At the Abuja meeting between Gabriel Ogbechie and Prince Ned
Nwoko, Gabriel according to our sources advised Hon. Ned to arrange a gift of
one hundred million (N100,000,000:00) Naira for Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko
because according to Dr. Ogbechie, Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko needed money badly
for personal upkeep. Of course Prince Ned declined, insisting that he won’t do
anything outside the directives of Idumuje-Ugboko land Allocation committee,
our source revealed, adding that Prince considered such an action a form of
bribery which is totally against his values.
In fact, Prince Ned tried to make Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie
understand the injustice of not proposing any compensation for the victims of
the crisis as that should be the focal point of all discussions. Truly there
cannot be peace without justice, he was alleged to have told a rattled
Ogbechie.
A MOCKERY OF THE DEAD, A SLUR AGAINST THE VICTIMS.
We have asked again and again, how could Gabriel Ogbechie
deny knowledge of a young man who was brutally killed in the palace and Kennedy
Nedu illoh who died from severe injuries inflicted upon him when he was
abducted by Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko’s thugs. Is he not aware that all the
people who were taken to the palace were beaten up, disgraced and humiliated in
the palace in the presence of Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko and his supporters?
During the engagement with Gabriel Ogbechie, Ned Nwoko
according to our source, did not discuss Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union
(IUDU) with him. He only allegedly revealed that he spoke with the Obi of Owa
who doubles as the chairman of Delta North Traditional Committee and Chairman
of the Owa Peace Committee on the application for bail for the culprits of the
mayhem and that he will plead with the prosecution if possible not to oppose
any bail application. Indeed, bail was not opposed and they were granted bail
subject with stringent conditions. At no time did they discuss Idumuje-Ugboko
Development Union (IUDU). The Union is not on trial. Therefore, the efforts to
make Prince Ned Nwoko look like an enemy of the union falls short of the truth.
What is clear and irreversible is that some people committed
crimes and justice, like the sword of Damocles, must prevail. All Gabriel
Ogbechie told Prince Ned Nwoko was that he didn’t want the matter to go for
trial as he felt that the suspects would eventually be found guilty and Prince
Ned allegedly asked him to meet the complainants and seek for some compensation
and apologies for them especially the families of those who lost lives. Gabriel
reaction was a scant comment that showed they didn't count as long as they
didn't represent his 'king's' interest. Prince Ned was said to have reminded
him that Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko and his group do not want peace because they
have continued to intimidate his supporters through illegal fines and illegal
excommunications. In clear terms reconciliation must be total and honest.
PRINCE NED'S THIRST
FOR PEACE.
It is on record that Prince Ned Nwoko has never been averse
to peaceful resolution of the Idumuje-Ugboko crisis even when he cannot be
adjudged as the aggressor in all ramifications.
He has attended every Peace meeting while Prince Chukwunonso
Nwoko has reneged in all.
THESE INCLUDE:
1. Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee, sometime in
March, April and May, 2017.
2. Meeting with then AIG Adamu Mohammed in his Zone 5
Benin-City office on June 1st 2017.
3. B.S.C. Elue led Anioma Congress Peace Committee
(severally met).
4. Proposed meeting with Obi of Idumuje-unor but aborted by
Prince Chukwunnonso Nwoko few hours to the meeting.
5. Chief Paul Uzor led Fact-Finding committee aborted on the
day of the meeting by Gabriel Ogbechie and all members of the purported
committee who published a 2-page signed advertorial maligning the persons of
Prince Ned Nwoko and 3 others on 21/4/2017.
6. Obed Onwochei Peace initiative.
7. Diokpa Uka/Idumuje-Ugboko Women IUDU sponsored Peace
initiative.
8. Most recently Obi of Owa Peace Committee.
Except for a very few mischief makers, most Idumuje-Ugboko
indigenes are happy with the efforts at establishing STARS University and the
golf course which they believe will bring greater development not only to
Idumuje-Ugboko but Anioma area and beyond.
WE ARE FOR JUSTICE AND THEN PEACE.
The truth is the wheel of justice delivery in Nigeria may
seem slow but it will always get to its target with a mortal grip. No escape.
And prosecution for a criminal falls within the arena of the State. So, nobody
will manipulate it. You don't have the
power to derail it. It will go its full course. And we will let the law
prevail.
While the peace initiative remains an avenue for peace, the
ascendancy to the throne should equally follow the traditional rites and laid
down procedure.
No matter the appeal, without justice and goodwill,
including honesty of purpose, it is easy to doubt Gabriel Ogbechie’s intentions
as a fair player in the Idumuje-Ugboko debacle.
Those wailing for PEACE in Idumuje-Ugboko without a whisper
for JUSTICE squander the integrity of serious conversations and inadvertently
elevate hypocrisy.
Let us all give justice a chance and peace will endure in
our troubled land forever.
A FINAL WORD FOR OUR BROTHER, GABRIEL AND ALL OF US
For our dear brother, Gabriel Ifeanyi Ogbechie, for all of
us and people of Idumuje-Ugboko, here is a parting shot...."The future
will have no pity for those men who, possessing the exceptional privilege of
being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors, have taken refuge in an
attitude of passivity, of mute indifference and sometimes, of cold
complicity"-- FRANZ FANNON in Wretched of the Earth.
This document is Signed by CHIEF CHRISTOPHER OGWU(Iyese of
Idumuje-Ugboko) and CHIEF SUNDAY EDEMODU (Odogwu of Idumuje-Ugboko).
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