Chukwuemeka Ofodile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has filed petitions against a traditional ruler, accusing him of violating the rights of the people of Agunese Mmaku community in Enugu State. In separate petitions sent to the Nigerian Bar Association and the Enugu State Attorney-General, both dated September 19, 2024, Ofodile outlined concerns over harassment, intimidation, and the misuse of police by the monarch to oppress his clients.
According to SaharaReporters’ earlier report from September 10, Lagos-based lawyer Vincent Okafor was arrested and detained on charges of inciting communal unrest in his hometown, Agunese Mmaku. Okafor, who has been practicing law for over three decades, was apprehended by police in Lagos and transported to Enugu under a warrant issued by an Enugu Magistrate Court. Upon arrival, he was quickly charged with “felony and carrying out a warlike undertaking” against the community and its traditional ruler, Igwe Nevobasi.
Members of the community have recently protested against the traditional ruler’s alleged use of the police to suppress dissent and perpetuate wrongdoing within Agunese Mmaku. Ofodile, in his petitions, specifically requested a formal investigation into the roles played by both the monarch, His Royal Highness Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi, and security personnel in the arrests of his clients, including Okafor and several other community leaders.
The petition also called for scrutiny into the conduct of two officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Enugu State Police Command, Blessing Oguche and one Nnamdi, to determine whether proper legal procedures were followed during the arrests.
Ofodile noted that since Igwe Nevobasi’s ascension to the throne over 20 years ago, Agunese Mmaku has experienced constant unrest. The senior lawyer pointed out that under the monarch’s leadership, the community has seen fabricated allegations, internal conflicts, and fraudulent management of communal resources, rather than any genuine progress or development.
The lawyer accused the monarch of using manipulative tactics to claim credit for projects initiated by other well-meaning individuals in the community while contributing little to the town’s growth. Ofodile further claimed that Igwe Nevobasi’s actions are part of a long-standing revenge mission against the majority of the community members who oppose his rule due to his past conduct.
The petition highlighted a specific instance in 2022, when the monarch allegedly attempted to mislead government agencies by filing a false petition with the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing 16 prominent community members, including Ofodile’s clients, of supporting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN). This petition, according to Ofodile, was an effort to silence those who opposed the monarch’s leadership. When the petition was exposed as fraudulent, the monarch was forced to retract his claims.
However, since that failed, Igwe Nevobasi allegedly shifted to fabricating new charges, this time accusing the same individuals of inciting local violence. The senior lawyer asserted that the monarch is now working with corrupt police officers to arrest and intimidate those who resist his authority.
Ofodile concluded by urging the authorities to see through these ongoing attempts to misuse the justice system. He stressed that the monarch’s actions represent a gross abuse of his traditional position, as he continues to manipulate legal processes to oppress his critics and strengthen his grip on power.
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