The
people of the Abavo community of Ika South Local Government Area of
Delta state are angry over what they call, “thick plans,” to release Mr.
Uche Irenuma, the dethroned monarch of the kingdom, from prison. The
incarcerated former monarch is at the center of a controversial series
of events that rocked the community in January that left more than 10
homes burned to the ground, at least three people dead, and residents
there stunned from a four day stretch of terror.
The plans,
according to numerous sources, and people close to the investigation,
has been orchestrated by the Delta State Director of Public Prosecution,
the monarch of Ogwashi-Uku, His Royal Highness, Professor Okonjo, and
father of Nigeria’s Finance Minister, one Sergeant Anthony Aidelojie of
the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID.)
Others
behind the plan to release the dethroned monarch include Obi of
Ute-Okpu, Pastor Solomon Chukwuka I and the Obi of Nsukkwa.
Mrs.
Queen Momoh, the trial magistrate in this case, had in January remanded
Irenuma to prison until March 11th, pending the hearing of the multiple
counts of arson, destruction of property, and murder, along with other
charges brought against him, and others connected to the bizarre story.
In
a press release issued to the public by the Abavo Peoples Voice titled,
“Uche Irenuma Is A Criminal And Must Be Prosecuted For His Crimes,” the
statement calls on the Delta State Directorate of Public Prosecution to
not “Be Used To Obstruct Justice In the Abavo case.”
The press
release was signed by Mr. Smart Madu Ajaja, Prince Emmanuel Ekhator and
Mr. Benson Ozuor, and obtained by SaharaReporters. The release noted
that through impeccable sources within the state Ministry of Justice,
the DPP, and other officials, (that they) have all concluded all plans
to release the imprisoned monarch on Monday, the 11th of March.
“Through very reliable
sources within the Delta State Ministry of Justice, and elsewhere, we
have been alerted to the maneuvers by some powerful citizens with vested
interests in the Abavo crisis,” part of the statement reads, “to
truncate the criminal prosecution of the rejected illegitimate Abavo
monarch, Mr. Uche Irenuma who went on a solo violent rampage with his
heavily armed thugs on January 15, 2014.”
This series of
events the statement goes on to say, “followed the arrest of (Irenuma’s)
driver who was caught with a nine month old baby, identified as Master
Winners Igbinomwahia, whom the driver allegedly confessed was kidnapped
on his (Uche Irenuma's) behalf, for a planned human sacrifice ritual the
previous day.”
“Those in the thick of the plot are three
controversial monarchs from the Delta North Senatorial District, out
which is one from Ika North East and a very close ally of his, whose
ascension to the throne was very controversial and who baptized Uche
Irenuma as a born-again Christian in his palace,” another part of the
release reads.
The baptizing of Irenuma the statement suggests,
was to “sway public opinion and win Government support after the people
of Abavo traditionally dethroned him in a massive popular non-violent
uprising, (an event that was) witnessed by over (seven thousand) Abavo
citizens on the home turf, and (also) supported by several other
thousands of Abavo citizens within Nigeria, and around the world.”
The
pointed statement coming on the heels of what promises to be a
spectacular, and emotion-driven trial, goes on to name additional names
in the Irenuma case. “Specifically fingered in the alleged devious
clandestine plot to obstruct justice,” it reads, (“also) involves one
Sergeant Anthony Aidelojie, of the State Criminal Snvestigation
Department (CID.) The obstruction is spearheaded by the Obi of Ute-Okpu,
Pastor Solomon Chukwuka I, and the Obi of Nsukkwa, who became an Obi at
the expense of the ouster of an Nsukwa Obi, born by an Abavo mother,
and the embattled Ogwashi-Uku monarch, His Royal Highness Professor
Okonjo in whose domain the rejected Abavo’s illegitimate rogue monarch,
Mr. Uche Irenuma is currently being held in prison custody pending the
commencement of his trial on March, 11, 2014.”
According to
the statement, Sergeant Aidelojie was the IPO who allegedly mishandled
the case files of the famous “Abavo 19,” who were held illegally in jail
(by officials) for 90 days, without trial. It was at this time when
police invaded the Abavo community as a result of a reported story of
“phantom violence,” and a later discovered bogus kidnapping of Mrs.
Pauline Irenuma, the mother of the dethroned Abavo monarch.
“And
since then,” the statement goes on, “he has been a regular feature for
the cash-in of the Abavo royal ascendancy crisis, providing classified
police intelligence, (and other) information and assisting his
paymaster, Uche Irenuma, with the procurement of sophisticated assault
weapons, with which (he) ran a relentless violent armed campaign against
Abavo, and the people of Abavo.”
“The Obi of Ute-Okpu,
according to a very reliable intelligence source, was alleged to have
stated that he advised Mr. Uche Irenuma, his rogue colleague, to
purchase assault weapons and go for those working hard to remove him
from his post,” the statement read. (“Irenuma took these actions)
because he sensed that Abavo youth were poised to overrun the Abavo
Royal palace if he did not act fast.”
“We are reliably
informed that Mr. Uche Irenuma broke prison rules to the extent that he
was moving freely (within) and (also) using his cell phone in a flagrant
disregard of prison rules” the statement said.
There is a
real fear among residents of Abavo that with what has transpired in
recent days is the formation of “a phony legal opinion that would
exonerate Mr. Uche Irenuma as the author and lead executor of the mayhem
that saw several houses of his perceived enemies demolished, and the
slaying of Mr. Ogorchukwu Peter Okoh, to stall the case before it ever
goes to trial, regardless of incontrovertible evidence of his active
involvement,” a key section of the release says.
Monday the
11th of March becomes a key day as the trial of this bizarre case
unfolds. There are moves, and counter moves a-foot as further
information, and evidence comes to the fore.
The Abavo people
through numerous spokesmen that the Obis of Ute-Okpu, Ogwashi-Uku, and
Nsukwa, should “back off,” and look for something useful to do in their
respective domains, instead of supporting Mr. Irenuma, whom they see as
‘damaged goods.’
They allege him to be a criminal, drug addict,
cultist, gangster, murderer, and a gambler. It is either that, the
backing off of outside support, or the Obis “risk uprisings that could
sweep them out of power in their respective domains as, according to
them, the Abavo people and their ancestors are ready to confront all the
negative forces who are working to obstruct justice for Abavo and the
Abavo people.”
“With this, we put all the citizens of
Ute-Okpu, Ogwashi-Uku and Nsukwa on notice,” the statement read. They
are asking the residents of these kingdoms to “call their Kings to
order, and tell them to back off the Abavo matter if they cannot stand
with the people of Abavo who have been the victims of the 23 year old
travesty of justice that brought the odious Irenuma dynasty at Abavo.”
As
the trial kicks-in the prevailing mood among many Abavo residents is
that, “Uche Irenuma is history and he will NEVER be the Obi of Abavo
ever again.”
