His Royal Majesty, Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, Prof. Leslie Eke, has accused Chief Emeka Ihunwo, a former palace secretary to his late father, of allegedly selling community lands in the Agbalaja area of Woji for the past 13 years without authorisation.
The monarch maintained that Ihunwo has neither traditional nor legal authority to transact in Woji ancestral lands, insisting that his former position as palace secretary does not confer on him the authority to act as a traditional ruler or custodian of community property.
Eke, also known as Eze Gbakagbaka, made the allegations while addressing journalists, where he called on members of the public to desist from purchasing land or engaging in any property transaction with Ihunwo in the disputed Agbalaja area.
He accused Ihunwo of allegedly presenting himself as a self-acclaimed traditional ruler and using the claim to facilitate the sale of community lands.
According to the monarch, Ihunwo served as palace secretary during the reign of his late father but was never a member of the Woji royal family and therefore had no authority to assume the responsibilities of the traditional stool.
“The palace secretary does not become anything but his palace secretary, and maybe awarded some chieftaincy title for a job well done. But that is it. Suddenly, he has become a self-acclaimed custodian of Woji lands. That is not Ikwerre custom,” Eke said.
He alleged that Ihunwo had continued selling portions of the Agbalaja land until recently, when he decided to intervene and stop the transactions in the interest of the Woji community.
The traditional ruler said his intervention was aimed at protecting what he described as the remaining land resources of the community from further encroachment and unauthorised disposal.
He also urged residents, prospective land buyers and other interested parties to allow the judiciary to resolve the dispute, assuring that peace would be maintained in the area.
Eke commended the Rivers State Commissioner of Police for his intervention, which he said had helped maintain peace amid the disagreement.
The monarch further disclosed that the dispute had a legal dimension, explaining that Ihunwo had approached the court seeking recognition of his claims, but maintained that no court had declared him a traditional ruler.
He alleged that the land dispute also involved an earlier disagreement over a burial ground belonging to the Opujageoma people, which eventually resulted in litigation.
According to him, the testimony of one of his chiefs featured in the proceedings, while he insisted that the judgment in the matter did not confer on Ihunwo the authority to sell Woji ancestral lands.
Eke said he had tolerated the situation for years in the interest of peace, despite concerns raised by some community leaders, but decided that further transactions could no longer be allowed.
He explained that his position was informed by the need to preserve the community’s ancestral heritage and prevent the remaining land from being taken over by individuals he described as unauthorised persons.
The monarch also rejected any suggestion that his intervention was motivated by personal or financial interests, stressing that his priority was to secure the land for the people of Woji.
He called on youths in the community to prioritise education, skills acquisition and personal development rather than seeking quick wealth through land transactions.
Eke, who described himself as a government-recognised traditional ruler and custodian of the customs and traditions of Woji and Evo Kingdom, reiterated his commitment to resolving the dispute peacefully.
He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and allow the courts to serve as the final arbiter in the matter.
