Enugu Government Threatens To Prosecute Ekweremadu Over Chieftaincy Claims

By naijacenternews

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is in trouble as Enugu State Government has threatened to prosecute him over his claims that he was conferred with the chieftaincy title by Oduma Council of Traditional Rulers last week.

The state government said that the Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 151 of the Revised laws of Enugu State, 2004, prescribed two years jail for anyone who falsely portray, hold himself out or allows himself to be portrayed or addresses other persons; or himself as a recognized chief of any town or community.

This was contained in a statement signed by State Commission for Chieftaincy matters, Pastor Emeka Abugu. He said ‘no traditional ruler in Oduma conferred chieftaincy titles on Ekweremadu and others.’’

It was rumoured that Ekweremadu was honourned with a chieftaincy title by Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of the state for enabling the N12 billion construction of the Nenwe-Oduma Uburu Road even though there have been ban on conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals by the state government.

The statement read:   ‘’I have read with utter dismay some recent newspaper stories and published photographs which tended to create the erroneous impression that the traditional rulers in Oduma land in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State conferred chieftaincy titles on Senator Ike Ekweremadu and others on Saturday, April 19, 2014.

‘’Ordinarily, one would have ignored such deliberate dissemination of misinformation, especially since truth is always constant and has no meeting point with lies. I am, however, constrained to put the records straight in order to save the concerned royal fathers from any unwarranted ridicule, especially from their unsuspecting subjects and the general public, who might believe the sponsored false media reports.

‘’The simple truth is that none of the traditional rulers from the eight communities that constitute Oduma or from any other part of Enugu State, conferred any chieftaincy title on either Senator Ekweremadu and/or others on the said April 19, 2014.

“This is an incontrovertible fact that can also be verified. Therefore, I challenge anybody with contrary fact to prove me wrong.

‘’For purposes of clarity, Oduma is made up of the following communities with their respective traditional rulers: Amagu Oduma –Igwe David Ohabuikem; Oduma Amanasato –Igwe A.O. Ene; Obeagu Oduma –Igwe G.U. Ekwe; Ezinesi Oduma –Igwe D.O. Njoku; Ukete Oduma –Igwe P.O. Oshiekwe; Oduma Achara –Igwe D. Chukwu; Ohofia Ndumeze Oduma –Igwe G.O. Nwanjoku and Ameke Oduma –Igwe-elect G. Ufio.

“It is on record that none of these royal fathers attended this gathering of a handful of friends who came for the ill-fated ceremony.”

Enugu Government Threatens To Prosecute Ekweremadu Over Chieftaincy Claims