There has been a level of unrest in Okpanam Kingdom in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State as a result of intra-communal headship and land disagreements. However, the issue came to a disturbing height when the traditional ruler, HRM Mbanefo Micheal Ogbolu was bundled to Abuja by police officers.
The police operatives from the Special Tactics and Weapons Division, Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Abuja, who had no mercy in bundling the monarch away on his way coming back from an early morning mass at the Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in town paid deaf ears to the Secretary to the State Government who tried to stop them. They also declined the monarch’s plea to be allowed to pick up his medications, bringing the kingdom to a state of confusion.
After obtaining a statement from the monarch, he was allowed to go home on December 19, 2021.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Daily Report Nigeria gathered that two groups, one led by Ogbolu and the other by the Iyase of Ogbodogba, Okpanam, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei are involved in the Okpanam fiasco. The traditional ruler knocked Ebigwei, insisting that he masterminded the allegations of land speculations against him to the police while the Iyase held the monarch responsible, saying he should deal with the termites he attracted to his house with woods.
With so many underlying sides and attestations to the case, the monarch alongside eight other sons of Obodogba are being accused of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, malicious damage, forgery and conduct likely to cause interrupt public peace.
As at January 10, 2020, when the petitioners were to provide evidences to back up their claims against the Ugoani and eight others before the police, they were nowhere to be found.
Ugoani-in-council probes affair deliberating on the matter, Friday, January 21, the Ugoani-in-council inaugurated a seven –man ad-hoc committee, comprising Chief Dominic Anyasi (Chairman), Patrick Okenyi (Secretary), Chief Nduka Ogwuda, Ogbueshi Abua Ntoka, Ogbueshi Clement Ukah, Ogbueshi P. O. C Nwayalani and Chief (Mrs.) Maria Mordi to probe Ebigwei
The council also charged the committee to liaise with the Diokpa of Umumale community, P.C.E Dunkwu, “to work out the mechanism for the restoration of our historical antecedents at Afor Market, Okpanam.”
Passing a vote of confidence on the monarch, the council commended the people of Okpanam for the unity of purpose they exhibited in searching for the king “after his abduction on Sunday, 19th December, 2021 and the tumultuous reception that heralded his return to Okpanam on Tuesday, 21st December, 2021.”
