Monarchs, others to present claims as Abia Panel begins review

The Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the Abia State government to review the issuance of certificates of office and Staff of Office to some traditional rulers on May 9, 2023, by the immediate past administration and other related issues, has swung into action.

The Panel has invited traditional rulers, presidents-general, youth leaders and women leaders in some of the affected autonomous communities to appear before it.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Administrative Panel, Chief Magistrate Uche Uwanuakwa (Rted) and Secretary, Chuka Agomo, directed the invited persons to appear before the Panel with documents to substantiate their claims.

The leaders of the affected autonomous communities, according to the statement, are to appear at the council hall of Ndi Eze at Abia State ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Umuahia.

The autonomous communities, as listed by the Panel, included Ndi Ugo autonomous community, Ugwu Nkpa autonomous community, Isiala autonomous community, Oriukwu autonomous community, Elugwu Akanu Item autonomous community, Umuhu autonomous community and Nkwo Amaiyi autonomous community.

Others are Eluama autonomous community, Ibeku Ngwa, Ugwuawuru, Umutu, Nkwoegwu, Usaka Ugwu Afugiri, among others.

Reacting to the invitation, a traditional ruler in one of the affected autonomous communities told DAILY POST on Wednesday that he was not afraid of appearing before the Panel, as according to him, he was duly elected by his people to lead them.

He accused one of his opponents who was allegedly envious of his popularity of writing a petition against his emergence as Eze.

But a member of another community who claimed that the emergence of the traditional ruler of his community did not receive the total blessings of the people, said he would be at the panel to present his claims.

DAILY POST recalls that during the inauguration of the Abia State Panel of Inquiry, the State’s Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu charged the members to work with integrity and not to victimize anyone.

He added that the panel was to look into litigations and problems in some communities following the recognition and issuance of certificates to some traditional rulers on May 9, 2023, by the previous administration.

The commissioner had also said that the panel, which has two months to conclude its findings and report to the Abia state government, was to also investigate how staff of office was allegedly handed over to two persons in one community.