Anthony Iwuoma
A weird drama is playing out in Alor community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where a businessman, Mr. Olisaemeka Igbonwa, has dragged his relatives and community elders to the police for allegedly burying him alive.
In a petition, the businessman claimed that his family had been destabilised as a consequence and his reputation damaged such that his friends and associates now describe him as a ghost and no longer related with him.
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The community had accused Igbonwa of conferring the ‘Ichie Ngene’, chieftaincy title, on himself whereupon some community elders held mock burial for him in the forest with a coffin bearing his name.
However, he denied conferring the title on himself, claiming that a duly government recognised traditional ruler in the community, conferred it on him.
According to Igbonwa: “A group of notorious people in the community, led by my senior brother, gathered themselves and dug a grave in the forest and said they were burying me alive. I am seeking legal redress in this matter because it has caused me a lot of damage; my business associates no longer transact business with me; they now call me a ghost. Some have even blocked me from their lines.
“The title of Ichie Ngene III that I was accused of taking by myself was conferred on me. That title was declared vacant for three years; the former holder refused to present himself to the new Igwe for recognition after the former Igwe died as tradition demands.
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“By so doing, he ruled himself out of the title, thereby making it vacant. After the Igwe crowned me, this notorious gang gathered themselves and formulated an emergency law that anyone who takes a title that belongs to another person should be buried alive, claiming our forefathers made the law. All are lies.
“I want the law to take its course by bringing these people to book. Their action has really damaged my reputation and they must sign an undertaking that if anything happens to me, they will be held responsible.”
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident but advised the people to discountenance the claim that the petitioner was buried alive.
“We have received his complaints and the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, has ordered full investigation into the matter. All the persons mentioned will be invited for questioning to ascertain what really happened,” Ikenga said.