JUST IN: Gunmen Abduct Delta Monarch, Injured Two Palace Aides

The Chairman of Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee, HRM Sunday Olisewokwu has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen who invaded his palace over the weekend.

Dependable source from the area told BigPen Online that the abduction may not be unconnected to his role in the festering Royal crisis rocking Idumuje Ugboko in Aniocha North local government area.

The source disclosed that the invaders also injured two palace aides of the monarch, who is the Obi of Ogodor also in Aniocha council area.

The monarch, it was gathered was one of those who had insisted that due process based on established traditional norms must be followed in the face of several court cases  on the issue of eligibility of one Nonso Nwoko to ascend the throne of the Obi of Idumuje Ugboko.

Our source disclosed that the kidnapped monarch had in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs, Deputy Governor’s office  Asaba, on behalf of Aniocha North Kings, dated 3rd May 2018, entitled, “RE -APPOINTMENT OF PRINCE JUSTIN OREZE CHUKWUNONSO NWOKO AS THE OBI OF IDUMUJE UGBOKO KINGDOM”, warned that non adherence to established procedure in crowning a new Obi could “lead to mayhem” and unprecedented violence in Idumuje Ugboko.

In the letter signed by the Obi of Ogodor and the secretary of Aniocha North traditional rulers committee, Mr. Nwaokolo Louis, the traditional rulers noted that beyond customary guidelines for royal ascension, “there are many court cases challenging the enthronement of Nonso Nwoko of which the Aniocha North traditional rulers committee is a party”.

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But reports alleged that brother of Prince Nonso Nwoko, one Barr. Mbanifo Nwoko had made several telephone calls and also written to threaten the Traditional Rulers in Aniocha North LGA in a bid to force the monarchs to give consent or approval for the ascension of Nonso Nwoko to the throne as Obi of Idumuje Ugboko.

BigPen Online couldn’t independently verified this claims whether the said Barr. Mbanifo Nwoko’s disagreement with the Obi of Ogodor led to his abduction over the weekend.

However, multiple sources from the area disclosed, “on Friday the 1st of June, 2018,  the said Barr. Nbanifo Nwoko is said to have refused service of a Court of Appeal process seeking an injunction restraining the enthronement of Nonso Nwoko as the Obi of Idumuje Ugboko.

The whole scenario at Idumuje Ugboko, according to our source who quoted an indigene “smacked of desperation to ensure that Nonso Nwoko ascends the throne as Obi  without regards to due process and the law .

“Only Last month crisis erupted at Idumuje Ugboko following a controversial visit by the senator representing Delta North, Peter  Nwaoboshi to Nonso Nwoko where he reportedly received “royal blessings” from Nonso Nwoko on behalf of the Idumuje Ugboko people, in his frenzied quest to return to the Red Chambers come  2019″, the source added.

The source said that after that embarrassing incident, the Iyase of Idumuje Ugboko community, Chief Chris Ogwu in a swift reaction disclaimed the said visit by Nwaoboshi, insisting that there has been no installation of any Obi to succeed the late Obi, Albert Nwoko who joined his ancestors two years ago.

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Chief Ogwu countered that the visit is misleading and uncalled for, as it is on record that nobody has been recognized or gazetted by the Delta state government either in verbal pronouncement or presentation of staff of office as Obi of Idumuje Ugboko.