Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
An Ebonyi-based lawyer, Barrister Christopher Adagba and the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Onah has exchanged words over alleged ban of masquerade procession and human Right abuse in Ngbo Community, Ohaukwu local government area of the State.
Barr. Adagba also accused Hon Onah and the Regent of Umuogodu Oshia, Prince Uche Ogali, of intimidation and threats to his life in connection with a legal case involving his clients.
Ajah, a solicitor represents members of the Ugwoke Ogene (Ngada Ogwu group) in a dispute involving masquerade practices in Ohaukwu and alleged human rights violations.
He said that on June 10, 2024, a group of thugs, allegedly led by Hon. Onah and Prince Ogali, attacked his clients, who are members of the Ugwoke Ogene cultural group adding that his clients were engaged in a peaceful procession to fulfill a traditional Ngbo cultural practice that mandates offering of kola nuts to the elders at Okwo Market during Omabe year.
He said that after completing the ceremony, while returning, at Umuogodu Oshia, they were ambushed by the thugs, allegedly acting on instructions of Ngbo Leaders Council.
It would be recalled that the council banned masquerade processions and mandated the practice of Christianity, prohibiting African traditional practices.
He noted that his clients, Emmanuel Ebenyi, Awoke James, Aburo Samuel, Ifeanyi Onwe, and four others, were assaulted, arrested, and detained for eight days by the police, despite not committing any crimes.
“They were later released but were unable to meet the conditions imposed on them. My clients were forced to pay ₦400,000 to the Ngbo Leaders Council, with only ₦150,000 paid so far. They were also asked to sign an undertaking to abandon African traditional practices in favor of Christianity.
“They were also mandated to provide a ten-year life insurance policy, holding them responsible for any harm to Hon. Onah or Prince Ogali”.
In response, a suit was filed on August 22, 2024, at the Federal High Court (Suit No. FHC/AI/CS/FHR/156) to enforce my clients’ fundamental human rights.
“On Sunday 6th October, 2024 my client’s son called me at 11:30pm in the night that police has rearrested his Father Mr. Emmanuel Eze Ebenyi and took him to an unknown destination and I assured him that I will go to the police headquarter the following day. On getting there I saw three of them at anti kidnapping unit and the IPO told me to go to magistrate court , the court did not sit on that day, it case was scheduled for Thursday.
“On Thursday morning by 4:30 pm , I and my wife heard a knock at the door, three police men were at the door, and they told me that they are police men from police headquarter and that I was under arrest, I pleaded with them that they should allow me come in the morning as I was handling my case for my clients, which they refused my plea.
“I requested for their warranty of arrest but they couldn’t produce any , they insisted on arresting me. So my wife brought t-shirt and trouser for me since I was on my boxers. I wore it and they took me to a Black Toyota car with red interior and drove off.
Instead of taking me to the police station, they took me inside a bush in Ezza through Ukwuachi along Abakaliki Enugu highway. They drove until the car got stuck at a place and couldn’t move , which they called for another car, a hilux came with covered plate number belonging to Chinedu Onah.
“They later took me to Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit, CMU at liberation estate, and handed me over to them.
“It was there I was asked if I had problem with the Deputy Speaker and I said no that I am only a counsel to my client in a matter they are having with him which include the police.
“Later the OC in charge of the case released me and said I was not under arrest , there is no petition written against me by anyone to the commissioner of police. That Chinedu Onah and Prince Uche Ali and their group want me dead because of a case I’m doing that did not favour them.
“During the search for me, my wife and brother met Chinedu Onah at the court and he told them that I’m at CMU at liberation estate.
“I’m pleading to the Ebonyi state government to come to my aid because I’m doing my legal duty,” he stated.
In response to the allegations, both Hon. Chinedu Onah and Prince Ogali denied any personal involvement in the lawyer’s alleged intimidation or arrest and stressed the importance of allowing the courts to resolve the matter.
According to the deputy Speaker Hon. Chinedu Onah stated, “this is a matter before the court, and I don’t know the lawyer personally. The decision to restrict masquerade activities in the market was made by the Ngbo Leaders Council, not by me. We are not trying to stop the culture but protect the rights of others,” he maintained.
Prince Uche Ali also addressed the situation, adding, “the masquerade activities have escalated into cultism, armed robbery, and other crimes. The local government legislated against masquerade activities in major roads and markets in 2023 to curb these excesses. I helped facilitate the release of the individuals after their arrest, but the situation has been escalated on social media and in court.”
“Ngbo nation said if you bring this masquarade to the market, you pay eighty thousand, five of them is 450,000 naira and they now paid 150,000, remaining 300,000. That was when I now intervened.
“Only five were arrested and those fives were masquerade and we expect that the spirit should fight for them selves, let me bring to your attention that nobody was been coerced into that payment , nobody is been forced into religious conversion, I will never stop anybody from that which he believe in as a religion,” he stated.
