Traditional ruler of Enuguagu AchiAutonomous Community, Oji River LGA of Enugu State, His Royal Highness Igwe Godwin Ndubueze Madu, is at the risk of being committed to jail for allegedly violating the orders of an Enugu High Court.
Everydaynews reliably gathered that the alleged imposition of Chief Joseph Uzoinyi as Nze representing NDI BE MGBE village in the Igwe’s cabinet has pitched the villagers against the traditional ruler.
In a bold move against the perceived imposition of Chief Uzoinyi as Nze, the village went to court and obtained a court injunction on February 20, 2025, which ordered that the presentation and inauguration of the Nze scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025, be suspended.
The court process was filed by the elected Chairman of NDI BE MGBE village, Prince Nixon Ahanonu, and another community leader, Dr. Damian Eze, at the Enugu State High Court, Oji River.
The villagers argue that the appointment of the Nze was an imposition by the traditional ruler, whom they claimed refused to carry out the necessary consultations as stipulated by the Community Draft Constitution.
The standoff, however, took a different dimension when the traditional ruler allegedly ignored a court injunction served on him and went ahead to inaugurate Chief Uzoinyi as Nze on February 22, 2025.
The violation of the court order has put His Royal Highness Igwe Godwin Ndubueze Madu at risk, as his lawyers work hard to convince the court that there was no violation of the order.
However, Counsel to the village leaders, Ejike Nwobodo, Esq., who confirmed that the traditional ruler was duly served, says his clients have enough evidence to prove their case.
The traditional ruler was absent when the court hearing on the matter commenced Wednesday, February 26, 2025, but his counsel said Igwe Madu was sick and was not able to be physically present at the hearing. However, his absence did not affect the court process, as hearing went on.
The case was adjourned to May 7, 2025.