Enugu-Agu Achi Community seeks Gov Mbah's intervention on alleged Monarch's tyranny, forgery

Some members of Enugu-Agu Achi Autonomous Community in Oji River Local Government area of Enugu State have petitioned Governor Peter Mbah to help protect them from the alleged absolute rule of their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Godwin Madu.

The community members said that they were not even part of the selection process in the "imposition" of the monarch as their traditional ruler, alleging that the police is already investigating an alleged signature forgery of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani in the certificate of recognition being paraded by the traditional ruler.

Efforts made to reach the monarch through subordinates for his reaction proved abortive, but a member of his cabinet, Nze Theo Onyebueke said that all the allegations being leveled against the traditional rulers are false and should be ignored.

One of the leaders of the opposition members to the traditional ruler, Ezedozie Ugochukwu in his petition to the police submitted documents for investigation in the Special Enquiry Bureau Section of the police force headquarters, insisting that

the aforementioned suspect, HRH. Igwe Godwin Ndubueze Madu should be investigated.

"This is also because the signature on the Certificate of Recognition by the above-mentioned suspect purported to be Dr. Chimaroke O. Nnamani's signature is forged. Please see attached the real signature of the then Governor and the forged signature of the then Governor of Enugu State marked 1," Ugochukwu petitioned.

Furthermore, the community members wrote to the present Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, pleading for thorough investigation and prosecution of the traditional ruler.

They appealed to Enugu State government and law enforcement agencies to quickly intervene and save the people from the alleged tyranny, despotic and unwholesome activities of Igwe Godwin Madu.

They stated that at no time did the community select or nominate him as their traditional ruler, and neither did Enugu State Government at anytime present him with staff of office as required by the state chieftaincy law. 

"Rather, he surreptitiously and criminally 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 reaffirmed that a petition to that effect has been forwarded to the police authorities which have commenced investigation into the matter with the prospect of arraigning him in court on charges of signature forgery.

"Over the years, this fake traditional ruler, who goes by the title of Mbaogu 2 of Mbaogu kingdom, in conjunction with his gang of former and serving government officials from the community, have 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 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 should 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. 

"However, no amount of his threat and intimidation will deter us from seeking for justice and enthronement of a genuine traditional ruler for the community. We believe at no distant time his true identity will be revealed. Our only concern is the likely implication this would have on the good image of the community. This is taking cognizance his on-going trial in the court for fraudulent activities."

In his response as member of the traditional ruler's cabinet, Nze Theo Onyebueke said that, "the police have done their investigations, the ministry of Chieftaincy has equally done it's 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 problem with him but he later signed the certificate of return. Infact he did not contest the stool with anybody because I'm a member of Mbaorgu Igwe-in- council. If they are talking about forgery they can go ahead and write. The matter has been investigated. Nothing was forged."