Alleged abuse of office: Abia govt sets up committee to investigate traditional ruler

Abia State government has inaugurated a Board of Inquiry to investigate allegations of improper conducts brought against some traditional rulers in the State.

This is coming two days after the traditional ruler of Ibom Isii autonomous community in Arochukwu LGA, Eze Kanu Nwa Kanu was suspended from office by the Abia State government for alleged abuse of office.

The Board of Inquiry, which has Justice Igbo Akomas (Rtd) and Mrs Gold Dynoh as the Chairman and the Secretary, respectively, was inaugurated in Umuahia, on Friday by the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Commissioner said their terms of reference included inviting and questioning all concerned traditional rulers in the cause of the investigations, making necessary recommendations to Governor Alex Otti and to evaluate appropriate sanctions.

Nwachukwu said the report of their findings should be submitted in three weeks.

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The commissioner further explained that the State government was not witch-hunting anybody, but only took the measures to “ensure that the integrity of the traditional institution in the State is maintained”.

Responding, the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry thanked the Governor for finding them worthy of the assignment, saying the assignment would be carried out diligently in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Other members of the Board of Inquiry include Eze Linus Mba, Eze Nelson Nmerengwa and Mrs Nkechi Ikechi.

Eze Kanu of Ibom Isii was suspended recently through a letter signed by the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, for allegedly abusing his office.

Meanwhile, some kinsmen and other supporters of the suspended traditional ruler have condemned his suspension by the State government, saying that the suspension was an interference in their culture.

The supporters who staged a solidarity march in support of their suspended king, claimed that he was being victimized.

One of the supporters, who identified himself as Nwa Mazi, said that an alleged harsh decision was taken without according the monarch a fair hearing.