Decades after the execution of Nwiboko Obodo, a paramount ruler in the Abakaliki area of the Eastern Region during the colonial era, crisis has polarised his family over who succeeds him as the traditional ruler of Ndebor Ishieke community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The crisis has led to the banishment of one of his surviving sons, Kenneth Nwiboko and his wife by the community for constantly instituting court cases against some members of the Nwiboko family and leaders of the community over the chieftaincy stool of the Ndiebor Ishieke community.

The man and his wife have been in exile since February after their banishment. It was gathered that their house was sealed, their property allegedly looted and the compound converted to farmland by the community.

The late paramount ruler was one of those granted pardon on January 1 by the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru.

Late Nwiboko Obodo, a known warrant chief in the Eastern Region during the colonial era, had a notorious pedigree in the area before his execution.

He is described as a rich man with influence extending to the British royal house, and having a rapport with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

His father, Chief Onwe Ali Obu Ali was also a traditional ruler before his death in 2025.

After his father’s death, Obodo who was said to be about 20 at the time, reportedly went to live in his father’s compound so as to also be installed as the paramount ruler. And according to history, because of his relationship with the British, he was made a paramount ruler in the area.

In 1928, he reportedly embarked on a journey to investigate other provinces, which were already paying tax. Among places he visited were Agbor, Benin, Ife, Ibadan and Oyo through which he learnt much about the British Administration.

He was said to have wielded much power, especially through the native court of Nkwegu in Abakaliki and his words were always final throughout his period.

He also reportedly established some kind of police service, the Odozi Obodo Society, said to be a cult,which he reportedly unleashed tyrannical rule on the people.

Several people reportedly went missing in his Ndebor Ishieke community when the activities of the Odozi Obodo society went out of control. The group reportedly acted against their personal enemies. At one point, it was said that Nwiboko Obodo could no longer curtail their activities.

He was extremely rich, had several large farms, where many villagers worked for him. He also owned about 4,000 cows and many cars, ran a transport business on the waterways and had 28 wives and many children.

It was also gathered that he helped the missionaries establish schools, including St. Nathy Catholic School in Ishieke, and the first secondary school in Izhi, the Izhi High School, Ishieke, as well as six other schools in Izhi land. He gave land for Mile Four Hospital and Leprosy settlement which still exist today.

But he was said to hate opposition and came hard against supposed opponents. There were allegations of kidnapping, beating and killings levelled against him.

He was eventually arrested and he was in jail for a long. He later faced trial for murder, along with ten accomplices. A steady stream of witnesses – those who dared talk – reportedly told tales of death by drowning or getting buried alive. There was also the alleged murder of a farmer named Nwakriko Abam.

Abam, according to prosecution testimony, had been invited around for drinks by some of the chief’s men. Suddenly his hosts seized him and slowly strangled him with a chain. His body was then brought before Chief Igboji, dismembered, tied to the victim’s own bicycle, and flung into the river. Abam’s crime: he had had the temerity to campaign against the chief in the last local parliamentary election.

He was further accused of extreme intimidation and use of cult threats and violence to confiscate people’s property, control 14 villages in the area, and enforcing arbitrary rule and punishments, including death.

Nwiboko Obodo was subsequently tried and executed by hanging for multiple counts of murder in 1959 by the then authorities.

Posthumous pardon

On Thursday January 1, 2026, Governor Francis Nwifuru granted him and four others posthumous state pardon. The five include Nwiboko Obodo, Edigbo Agu, Akponwe Ogalegu, Ugadu Ofim and Nwangbo Idoko. three other living convicts: Ifeanyi Nwamini, Hyacinth Nwigwe and Eze Ekene.

The pardon was pronounced by the governor during his New Year broadcast in Abakaliiki, the Ebonyi State capital.

“This decision was taken after careful consideration, guided by law, conscience, and the broader interest of peace and reconciliation in our state,” Nwifuru stated.

The governor emphasised that the pardon for the posthumous beneficiaries was meant to clear their names, restore dignity to their memory, and bring peace to their families and communities while for those still living, it was extended with the expectation of renewed responsibility.

“Mercy does not excuse wrongdoing, but it opens the door to reform, reintegration, and a better path forward,” he stated.

However, a month after the posthumous pardon, one of his surviving sons, Kenneth Nwiboko was banished from the community over who should succeed the late paramount ruler as the traditional ruler of Ndiebor community.

Besides Kenneth, his wife and a nine-year-old son of her sister were also banished. The man was banished for incessantly instituting a suit against his brother, Hyacinth Nwiboko and some members of the community over the community’s traditional stool. The incident occurred on February 14, 2026.

According to his daughter, Faith, her father had approached a court to challenge the enthronement of her uncle, Hyacinth. She revealed that because of the action of her father, the community dehumanised him and her mother and sent them out of the community, warning them not to set their feet to the community.

She told this newspaper that her parents were tied up with palm fronds with charcoal rubbed on their faces and were carried in a wheelbarrow, paraded round the community and market square, and dumped in a place after they had been severely beaten.

“They beat my father and my mother, and dumped them at Ukwuachi junction. They said the mistake he made was going to court to challenge them. They wanted to take him to the forest and kill him.

“They used palm fronds and sealed our house after destroying some property in the house. They said they have banished my father and my mother forever, that they don’t want to see them again. They said he has been challenging the chieftaincy stool of our community which he won,” she narrated.

She alleged that a prominent politician in the state who is from the community, sponsored those that meted the inhuman treatment on her parents

Faith called for justice for her parents and lamented that a month after they were banished, no one has talked about it or asked her how she is coping

“My father and mother are still in exile. They are still where they are taking refuge after they were banished by some members of our community and nobody has said anything about it including the government.

“I want justice for my parents. We don’t have a home anymore. They have destroyed our house and converted our compound to farmland,” she lamented.

Her father, Kenneth while narrating his ordeal said a meeting was held in the Nwiboko Obodo family and he was selected as the successor to the late monarch because of his educational qualification.

His words: “The entire community of the Izzi clan was talking about how to restore kingship in the Nwiboko Obodo family and they said that we should select somebody who would represent our late father, Chief Nwiboko Obodo.

“So, in that aspect, we held a meeting with the family and the family resolved that I am the one to represent our father. So, we unanimously agreed.

“Then, I think the next day, we went to Amegu, the Izzi ancestral home and the elders prayed for me. They said, okay, they will first of all call a meeting so that the entire Izzi clan will now have to bury my late father properly in accordance with Izzi custom and tradition before any other thing, and that was our agreement.

“So, along the line, the community summoned every one of us that we should come and obtain a form for kingship.

“I heard the news and I went and obtained a form for the traditional stool and then they said the requirement is O-Level, a minimum of O-Level. So, I have my O-Level, I have my degree and I have my Masters. So, they called us for screening.

“We came and they screened us. They said we should go. They would call us to give the result of what they have done. We stayed, waited. All we could know is they fixed the date of coronation without inviting us to come and see how the screening went.

“So, they now went and called one Hyacinth who has no first O-Level certificate. Nothing ever he has done to the community that warrants him to be the traditional ruler.

“Presenting myself, I have been a village head for over 13 good years. Then I have been a Secretary for the Ishieke Development Union and I have held other community positions

“On the 14th day of February, I was in my house with my wife and my children. I saw people in large numbers and they invaded my compound.

“I was afraid and I said to my wife, what brings about all this? What has happened today? Are they punishing a thief or what? This happened at about 6 a.m.

“We used to wake up at 5.30am and pray. So, with this, I told my wife that I could not remain in the house just like this. I will come out, and If I’m dying today, I’m okay. Then I came outside.

“They were coming in twos. Then they came and held me and said I should give them my phone.

“I gave them my phone, then, I looked up and I saw the self-acclaimed traditional ruler, Hyacinth and his cabinet behind him and the son was in the vehicle. The vehicle was driven by his son.

“So, they were coming and stopped at the gates. All I heard from him is that he said that they should bundle him up and take him to the forest.

“There were more than 100 and there was nothing I could do. I surrender myself. They were beating me and hitting me with all manner of objects. They hit me on the waist which has made me unable to walk.

“They were chanting songs of death. They now carried charcoal and ashes, mixed it together and rubbed it all over my body. They pulled my shirt and stripped me naked completely. Somebody just managed to give me my boxers to wear.

“There was nothing I could do. I begged and asked them what I did. They started blaming themselves, saying why did they come by this time? I think what they agreed on was by night to eliminate me. So, they continued beating me and started beating my wife.

“I told them, leave my wife, she is a woman. She came here to marry, nothing concerns her. They intensified their beating on me until I could not walk again. They now went and carried a wheelbarrow.

“They put me and my wife in the wheelbarrow and drove us round the market, disgracing us. They were going from place to place telling my tenants that this person is no longer going to be alive.

“After parading me and my wife inside the wheelbarrow, they carried us and dumped us in a forest”

He said he would challenge his inhuman treatment in court, describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“They didn’t follow the law and crowned Hyacinth a king. I want the law to be interpreted and I want them to crown me the king because I am the most qualified among the seven that came out for the position,” he said.

Denials

Hyacith Nwiboko Obodo, Kenneth’s elder brother, who said he was crowned the traditional ruler of the Ndiebor autonomous community by the people, denied involvement in the torture and banishment of his younger brother, Kenneth and wife.

He explained that he has no issues with Kenneth and that Kenneth has been living with him from childhood and wondered why he should accuse him of masterminding his ordeal in the community.

He revealed that his embattled brother has continued to institute cases in court against him and some members of the community, despite always losing the cases.

“Kenneth Nwiboko Obodo is my brother, I am his elder brother. I have no issues with him. We have had no issues since we were young till this period.

“I was not present when the issue of the traditional ruler of our community was discussed and by our people. I didn’t tell anyone that I was interested in the traditional stool of our community. I didn’t contest for the position of traditional ruler.

“Our community people came to me and told me they wanted to crown me the traditional ruler of this community and I didn’t know when they discussed it.

“They came and took me on 14th September, 2024 and went to Odomoke where a traditional ruler is usually crowned and crowned me the traditional ruler of this community.

“No one in the community opposed the coronation and Kenneth, my brother , was not there during the event. He didn’t come there and didn’t raise an objection.

“I was crowned the traditional ruler by the community and some respected elders of the Izzi clan, including Sen. Chris Nwankwo. After some time, a suit was filed against my coronation. I asked who filed the suit, and I was told it was Kenneth. The matter was decided and he lost the case.

“A second suit was filed and he was still the person that filed it. I was served the suit in my palace here. I am not responsible for Kenneth’s banishment. I have no hand in it. Will I live in his house if I banish him? Will I inherit his property? Kenneth is my younger brother and he lived with me when he was young.

“So, how can I chase him out of his house? How can I send the youths of my community to go and kill my brother? We are brothers and the same father gave birth to two of us. I am talking to you barefoot and if I am telling lies, our late father is seeing me and if I am telling the truth, God will continue to protect me.

“If our community banished him, I am not aware. I am not aware he was banished from the community. I have no hand in it. I would have called him if I was informed about his banishment but I can’t do so because I was not informed about it and he didn’t tell me either.

“You can go round this community and make inquiries about me. I am a calm, peaceful and law-abiding person, I have no issues with anyone. You can also ask about me outside this community and hear testimonies about me, good testimonies.

“Our community has decided that he must withdraw the suit against me before they will allow him to return to his house. Ask our community if I was the one that crowned myself a king or if they crowned Kenneth king and I took the kingship from him.

“Also ask our community if I sold their land and used the proceeds to crown myself traditional ruler, as Kenneth has been telling people.

“I have been working hard for peace in the community and it is yielding results and people are testifying about it. There used to be killings and stealing in this community but I have stopped those things and everywhere is now calm,” he said.

Nwebonyi Chukwuma, the Town Union President of Ndebor Ishieke Autonomous Community, said Kenneth Nwiboko has been instituting cases in court against Hyacinth Nwiboko and some members of the community.

He said in one of the cases, the community spent N5million. He described Kenneth as a serial loser who has lost every case he instituted in the court.

Nwebonyi said Kenneth was banished by the youth of the community because of the suits he has been instituting. He also said he was not aware when the banishment was done.

The Town Union President said the coronation of Hyacinth Nwiboko as the traditional ruler of the community followed due process, contrary to Kenneth’s claim.

“We are a peace-loving community. The community asked him to withdraw his suits against our traditional ruler and the community before he can return to the community. This is one of the conditions that has been given to him. We invited him to a meeting but he didn’t attend. My Secretary even wrote to his daughter to inform her about the meeting to enable her to also tell her father.

“Kenneth should withdraw his case in court against our traditional ruler and the community because no one crowns himself a king. You don’t struggle to be made a king. It is the community that crowns one a king and the person must be worthy in character and not someone that will bring disunity to the community,” Nweboyin stated.

How we picked the new monarch

He continued: “This community was without a traditional ruler for over 20 years because late HRH Nwiboko Obodo has not been given a befitting burial. I was the Vice President of the community development union. We summoned stakeholders to a meeting and informed them of the state government directive that any community that has no traditional ruler should get a traditional ruler.

“We have 10 villages and each of the villages had representatives during the meeting. We resolved to constitute a committee to produce qualified persons for the election of a new traditional ruler of our community so that no one will say that it was done illegally when it will be done. Two persons per village were selected to be members of the community.

“Before then, we met with the Principal Secretary to our governor, Chief Mathias Adum and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uchenna Igwe and they directed that we should not involve them in the constitution of the committee because they will be accused of bias. So, we constituted the committee and the process for the election of a traditional ruler lasted for over a year.

“Seven persons declared interest in the traditional ruler position and the committee presented them to the community but Kenneth Nwiboiko didn’t come. He was the only aspirant that didn’t attend the meeting. All the Who’s Who in the community and government officials were in attendance and Chief Hyacinth Nwiboko was crowned the king. Kenneth Nwiboko who was not present when it was done, didn’t protest the coronation or say anything

“It was a man who came out to oppose the coronation when staff of office was being issued by HRH Hyacinth Nwiboko and governor told him that after one year Hyacinth was crowned, he was just opposing it to cause problem in the community and pleaded with him to allow peace to reign.

“After the staff of office was issued to the new traditional ruler, Kenneth instituted a suit against him, the selection committee and some members of the community. We were dragged to court and we spent a huge amount of money. In that case, we spent N5million. Kenneth was defeated in the case.

“After the defeat, he instituted another suit and he was also defeated and we kept quiet, we allowed him. After the second de

(The Sun)