Court Disobedience: Magistrate Orders Arrest Of Enugu Monarch, Three Others

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

A magistrate court sitting in Enugu State has issued a bench warrant on the traditional ruler of Amagu Umulokpa community in Ezeagu council area of the state, HRH Igwe Udedibor Dominic and three others for refusing to appear before it.

G.C Amadi, the presiding magistrate of Enugu South magisterial district gave the order on Wednesday.

The court heard an oral application made by the prosecutor, Assistant superintendent of police, Asp Peter Eze. Igwe Udedibor 56, and the other suspects, who are facing criminal charges, failed to appear before the court on two consecutive dates, even when their counsel applied for those dates.

The Magistrate had expressed disappointment that a traditional ruler would fragrantly refuse to appear before the court to face criminal charge against him even when he was properly put on notice.

“The traditional ruler was summoned on January 15, 2014, but he refused to appear and one of the counsels pleaded and asked the court for 22nd January. Today he is not in the court; the counsel that asked for this is also not in court”,

the Magistrate said. The monarch, Igwe Udedibor, Emmanuel Maduegbunam, Benjamin Chukwuma and Innocent Udedibor are facing a five-count charge, in a charge No. MES/06c/2014, which borders on promoting local war, conspiracy, threats of lives, ostracizing of some members of the community, among others.

Some of the charge read in parts: “that you HRH Igwe Udedibor Dominic, Emmanuel Maduegbunam, Benjamin Chukwuma and Innocent Udedibor on or about the 4th day of May 2013 at Amagu Umulokpa in Ezeagu Magisterial district of Enugu State, did without lawful authority promote local war in your community, Amagu Umulokpa, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 86 of the criminal code, Cap 30 Vol. II laws of Enugu State, Nigeria 2004.

“That you Igwe Udedibor Dominic and three others on the same time and place did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: promoting local war and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495(a) of the criminal code, Cap 30 Vol. II laws of Enugu state 2004″.