The police have arrested the traditional ruler of Obile autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Columbus Abyssinia Ogbuji, for allegedly forging his certificate of recognition from the state government.
Consequently, the police have also arraigned Eze Ogbuji, who is one of the prominent monarchs in the state, before Magistrate A.C Opara of Owerri Magistrates Court 7.
Arraigning the monarch in Owerri, police prosecutor, Inspector Ndeme, told the court that Eze Ogbuji was arrested by policemen from Zone 9 in Umuahia, Abia State, for allegedly forging a certificate of recognition of his staff of office for the traditional institution.
Monarch contravened Section 467 of Criminal Code
The police prosecutor argued that the monarch falsely claimed that the forged certificate of recognition was authenticated and issued to him by the then s e c r e t a r y to the Imo State Government, Nze I.M.O Umunna, during the administration of former Governor Achike Udenwa.
The police in the suit with charge number Ow8c/2017, further said that the traditional ruler’s arrest followed the submission of a petition by some of the royal father’s kinsmen, who had demanded an investigation of his claims.
The prosecutor said that at the end of the investigations by the police, it was discovered that the accused monarch’s claim of obtaining a power of attorney purportedly authenticated by the previous administration of Governor Udenwa was forged, necessitating the royal father’s arraignment in court.
The police prosecutor added that the alleged forgery committed by the traditional ruler contravened Section
