Fear in Anambra community as police arrest ‘dethroned’ monarch’s aide

There was a palpable fear in the home town of former governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige over the arrest of a cabinet chief in the community by the police.

The arrested chief, known for supporting the dethroned traditional ruler of Alor, Idemili South local government area, is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday.

As a result of the current development, tension has heightened in the community.

The charges, according to the state police command, include alleged assault, threats to human life, and desecration of the sanctity of the state House of Assembly complex.

The community has experienced ongoing turmoil due to disputes concerning the town’s union leadership and traditional stool.

The Nation gathered that the recent problem was the failure of the dethroned monarch to honour invitation of the state House of assembly’s committee on public pétitions, alongside other stakeholders

The behaviour, however, angered the lawmakers who threatened to issue him bench warrant.

They were initially invited on Jan 21, 2024, but the dethroned monarch did not honour the invitation and a new date was given to him to appear before the committee which was on February 22.

The alleged petition from one of the High Chiefs in the community, had noted that the dethroned monarch, who was allegedly removed  by the State High Court about two and half years ago, was still parading himself as a traditional ruler of Alor community, contrary to the verdict and orders of Court.

Ahead of the day’s sitting, the dethroned traditional ruler presented a written reply to the petition to the state Assembly, stating his own side of the report.

It was further gathered by The Nation,  that after the sitting, one of the chiefs of the ‘dethroned ‘monarch rushed to the petitioner and attacked him.

This, warranted the lawmaker, representing Ihiala 1 Constituency , Hon Golden Iloh,  to lock the Assembly gate to alert the police who quickly intervened to quell the fracas.

The alleged attacker, Osita Igbonwa was arrested and detained at the ‘B’ Division of the police command before he was released on bail.

One of the senior police officers who spoke with The Nation but pleaded anonymity, said suspect  would appear in court next week wednesday to answer to the charges of assualt, threat to human life and descretion of the sanctity of the state Assembly complex.

One of the chiefs, (names witheld),  said: “I don’t want to be arrested because I was only invited for an agreed amount to accompany Igwe to a function.”