Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Denies Land Grabbing Allegations

The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo II, has strongly refuted accusations from the neighbouring Ubulu-Okiti and Ubulu-Uku communities. The communities recently protested against the monarch, accusing him of land grabbing and abduction. The Ogwashi-Uku Council of Chiefs, in a statement issued on behalf of the Obi, dismissed the claims as “incorrect, false, and maliciously wrong.”

According to the statement, which was released by the Ogwashi-Uku Palace Secretary, Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, the allegations are part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of Obi Okonjo. The Council noted that the monarch is a law-abiding ruler who adheres strictly to the rule of law, and that such protests only serve to mislead the public.

The protest, which took place last Friday at the Delta State Government House in Asaba, was led by Ifechukwude Nwabuebo, the President of Ubulu-Okiti. The protesters claimed that for over two years, Obi Okonjo and his family have been involved in the illegal sale and grading of land in their communities. They also alleged that when they protested, they were met with threats and violence, including reports of thugs chasing them off the land. Speaking further, they claimed that in the early hours of the morning, Obi Okonjo’s family stormed their communities, assaulted women, and abducted their elders, who have since been held in detention without bail.

The protesters, pleading for government intervention, appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to ensure the release of the detained elders and to stop what they described as land grab activities. They further stated that the Ubulu communities, including Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Okiti, and Aniagbala, are independent and not part of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, and they have resisted attempts to be absorbed by the Ogwashi-Uku clan.

In response, the Ogwashi-Uku Council of Chiefs accused the protesters of using propaganda to derail ongoing legal proceedings and to sabotage the police investigation. The Council urged the public to disregard the misleading narratives and wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation, which is being conducted by law enforcement agencies.
The Council further stated that Obi Okonjo is committed to respecting court judgments and the rule of law, adding that no one should take the law into their own hands. The Council also reiterated that it is confident the Commission of Inquiry will clarify the matter and demonstrate that the Obi is innocent of the charges.

Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo II is the younger brother of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a fact that has drawn additional attention to the ongoing dispute.