Imo to restore traditional rulers’ financial autonomy

•Enugu Monarch Petitions IGP, Wants Kidnap Case Against Him Withdrawn

Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has disclosed that he would plan towards entrenching financial autonomy for monarchs in the 27 local councils of the state.

Addressing monarchs of the 647 autonomous communities yesterday at the Eze Imo Parliamentary Palace Chambers, Mbari Street, Owerri, Ihedioha assured the monarchs that his administration would provide them with five percent of the required monthly federal allocation as enshrined as this would help them grow judiciously.

He assured that he would rule the state without fear and favour, suspending all the monarchs’ coronation ceremonies and cancellation of all the recognition of the monarchs from January 2019, in order to restore traditional institution in the state.

The governor, accompanied by his deputy, Gerald Irona, lamented the bad state of the economy in the past.The traditional ruler of Amankanu Amuri community, Nkanu West Council, Igwe Linus Nwobodo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), asking him to halt his wrongful prosecution over an alleged kidnap case.

The police had dragged the 79-year-old paramount ruler, three members of his cabinet, Ekene Nnamani, Ebuka Kawawa and Michael Nwani; and the chairman of Neighbourhood Watch in the community, James Edeh, to court over the alleged kidnap of one Chimankpa, who had however, been rescued and his statement to the police allegedly did not implicate the monarch or his cabinet members being prosecuted.

In a petition dated May 22, 2019, and titled, ‘Petition over wrongful investigation/prosecution by the Nigeria Police Force’, the monarch maintained innocence of the allegations and called for a thorough investigation of the matter.

Nwobodo, through his counsel, Gab Oforma Agbo, said the case filed at the Federal High Court, Enugu by the police was aimed at embarrassing him. He explained that as the chief security officer of his community, one of his subjects, Stanley Chukwu, had reported the case of a missing child.He said he directed the matter to the police in Agbani for attention and rather than do a thorough investigation, the police arrested  him and members of his cabinet.