News

Tension As Dethroned Anambra Monarch Refuses To Leave

Published

3 years ago

July 29, 2022

Editor

There was tension in Alor Community, in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the alleged refusal of the monarch, Anthony Okonkwo, to vacate office after his sacking by a state High Court.

Alor community is the hometown of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

The Administrative Judge of the Anambra High Court, Ogidi Judicial Division, Justice Pete Obiorah, had, in February 2022, dethroned the monarch.

Since his dethronement, Okonkwo has allegedly refused to vacate the throne, five months after, prompting the community to slam a notice of consequences of disobedience of court order (Form 48), based on the judgement of the court.

Already, the Alor community has elected another ruler, Igwe Collins Chukwumesili, as its new monarch, while waiting for his recognition from the government.

As a result of this, the youths of the community had threatened disturbances, if the dethroned monarch failed to vacate the office with immediate effect.

The President-General of Alor Peoples Convention, Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, who filed the Form 48, averred that the contemnor, Okonkwo, had continued to parade himself as the Igwe of Alor community, in breach of the subsisting court order/judgement.

Igbonwa maintained that a new monarch had been elected by the community, in the person of Ebelechukwu Chukwumesili.

He said the contemnor, Okonkwo, had continued to parade himself as the Igwe of Alor community, in breach of the subsisting court order/judgement.

Igbonwa gave an instance where Okonkwo returned from abroad recently and on arrival at the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri, mounted a show of shame by addressing few rented individuals as Igwe of Alor.

He explained that the dethroned monarch told the gathering that he was still the Igwe of Alor because he filed an appeal against his dethronement, adding that he also filed a stay of execution.

Igbonwa argued that, even if Okonkwo filed a stay of execution, which had not yet been determined, his actions so far indicated that he had been acting in breach of the court order, hence the Form 48.

In Suit No. HID/354/2019, the plaintiffs, Frank Okoye, Ifenna Okafor and Igwe Mac-Anthony Okonkwo, were seeking the court’s protection and stoppage of the defendants, Incorporated Trustees of Alor Peoples Assembly, APA and Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, from dethroning him as the Igwe of Alor.

But Justice Obiorah rather dethroned Okonkwo in his 17-paragraph judgement order.

According to Justice Obiorah in paragraph 14 of the judgment, “I grant an order that the certificate of recognition issued to Okonkwo as Igwe of Alor by the state government on June 23, 2014, is in breach of the Constitution of Alor Peoples Convention, then in force and Anambra State Government Traditional Rulers Law, 2007.”

In paragraph 15 , “I grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from further parading himself as the Igwe of Alor, carrying on any function(s) and/or duties of Igwe of Alor, occupying or using the palace of Obi Eze-Agbudugbu and generally from intermeddling in the various customs and practices, as well as administrative affairs of Alor town.”

But one of the leaders of the community and the President-General, Mr Christian Okudo, on Friday, insisted that Okonkwo remained the traditional ruler of the community.

Okudo said the judgement had been appealed by the dethroned monarch, through his Counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, at the appeal Court in Awka.

“They should wait for the appeal. The status quo should be maintained for now, until after the appeal,” Okudo said.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.