Enugu Community Writes Mbah, Alleges Monarch Forged Return Certificate

The people of Enugu-Agu-Achi in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State have written to Governor Peter Mbah alleging that their traditional ruler, Igwe Godwin Madu, forged his Certificate of Return. They also claimed that the ruler was ruling them with high handedness.

In the petition, the natives demanded immediate intervention of the state government in the matter.

According to them, they did not participate in the selection of the traditional ruler, describing his stool as an “imposition”.

The petition was signed by a representative of the residents, Chief Ezedozie Ugochukwu. They further alleged that the certificate of recognition in the possession of the traditional ruler was being investigated over alleged forgery.

According to them, “The Certificate of Recognition by the above-mentioned suspect purported to be Dr Chimaroke O. Nnamani’s signature is forged.”

The petitioners claimed that there was no time that the community selected or nominated him as their traditional ruler. They added that the Enugu State government did not at any time present him with a staff of office as required by the state chieftaincy law.

The petition read, “Rather, he surreptitiously forged a letter purported to have been signed by the then Governor of the state, His Excellency Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, with which he has been parading himself as a traditional ruler.

“We have discovered that the so-called Certificate of Recognition as a traditional ruler dated 12th May 2006, alleged to have been issued to him, had a fake signature of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani on it.”

The petitioners stated that a petition to that effect had been forwarded to the police authorities for investigations.

It added, “Over the years, this traditional ruler, who goes by the title of Mbaogu II of Mbaogu Kingdom, in conjunction with his gang of former and serving government officials from the community, has unleashed a reign of terror on the law abiding and innocent indigenes of the community.

“He has been harassing, intimidating and detaining the people on a daily basis without any cogent and justifiable reason. Indeed, the community now lives in fear as a result of his brutal and oppressive activities.

“In addition to illegally and forcefully acquiring people’s property, he has appropriated the only viable economic resource, the quarry, to himself and his cronies. Over the years he has been exploiting this vital economic asset belonging to the community without rendering account to anybody. And those who dared to ask questions have had bitter stories to tell.

“As concerned indigenes of this community, we have decided to cry out and seek the intervention of His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, to save us from the evil machinations of this fake traditional ruler and his notorious gang. We are making a passionate appeal to our God fearing governor to immediately set up an investigative panel to unravel how he became a traditional ruler.

“We are demanding that the government put the necessary machinery in motion that will produce a true and acceptable traditional ruler for the community. Such a person should be a man of honour and integrity with no history of criminal record as we have in the present usurper.

“We are aware that he has been going about bragging and boasting of his connections with government and security agencies, which has falsely given him the audacity to continue to perpetuate his unlawful activities.”

The petitioners stated that no amount of his threat and intimidation would deter them from seeking for justice and enthronement of a genuine traditional ruler for the community.

A member of the Igwe cabinet of the community, Nze Theo Onyebueke, who spoke on behalf of the traditional ruler, debunked the allegations against the royal father.

He told PUNCH that, “The police have done their investigations. The Ministry of Chieftaincy has equally done its investigation. The police came from Abuja to our community and we discussed and they went and wrote their report.

“It’s true that Chimaroke (former Governor Nnamani) had initial problems with him but he later signed the certificate of return. In fact he did not contest the stool with anybody because I’m a member of MbaorguIgwe-in- council. If they are talking about forgery, they can go ahead and write. The matter has been investigated. Nothing was forged.”

Enugu Community Writes Mbah, Alleges Monarch Forged Return Certificate is first published on The Whistler Newspaper