Three persons have appeared before the Imo state Magistrate court along Orlu Road Owerri On suit : OW/ 184C/2025 , over Alledged , wrongful conferment of Nzeship titles – a function only meant for Traditional Rulers in Igbo Communities.
The accused persons Nze Bruno Obi and Nze Reginald Obi from Ezedibia alongside Okenze Benjamin Ihenacho from Ezeogba all in Emekuku Autonomous Community Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo state pleaded not guilty as at press time to the alleged 3 count criminal charges and were said to have wrongfully connived to carry out Nzeship conferment to certain persons in Emekuku Community, which is said to be a punishable offence under section 31 of the Imo state Council of Traditional Rulers and Allied Matters law of 2016.The case which is between the Commissioner of Police Imo State vs the three persons has the count charges as follows :
According to the statement , “That you Okenze Benjamin Ihenacho, Nze Bruno Obi, Nze Reginald Obi, and others now at large all from Emekuku Autonomous Community , on or about the 5th Day of October 2024 at Emekuku Community in the Owerri Magisterial District, you did wrongfully carry out the function of the recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community when you conferred one Mr Eric Onyegbula Nzeship title, a function that can only be carried out by His Royal Majesty EZE OBI EJESHI being the recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 31 of the Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matter Law, 2016.
That you Nze Benjamin Ihenacho ‘m’ of Ezeogba Village in the Emekuku Autonomous Community and others now at large , on or about the 10th day of December 2022 at Emekuku Community in the Owerri Magisterial District, you did wrongfully carry out the function of a recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community when you conferred and installed yourself as the OKENZE Emekuku, a function that can only be performed by His Royal Majesty EZE OBI EJESHI, being the recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 31 of the Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matter Law, 2016.
That you Okenze Benjamin Ihenacho, Nze Bruno Obi, Nze Reginald Obi and others now at large, on or about the 15th Day of December 2023 at Emekuku Autonomous Community in the Owerri Magisterial District you did wrongfully carry out the function of the recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community when you conferred one Celestine Amadi Nzeship title, a function that can only be carried out by His Royal Majesty EZE OBI EJESHI being the recognized Eze of Emekuku Autonomous Community and you thereby committed and offence punishable under section 31 of Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matter Law, 2016 “.
Meanwhile the counsel to the accused persons pleaded with the court to grant the accused bail based on self recognition, adding that the accused appeared in court based on arraignment notice .
The accused were granted bail, and the case was adjourned to 10th June, 2025.
