Man Accuses Traditional Ruler of Stopping Wife’s Burial, Demands Justice

A resident of Umuzomgbo, Ihechiowa in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Elijah Ndubuisi Amah, has appealed to the Abia State Government, security agencies, and other relevant authorities to intervene in what he described as a prolonged ordeal over the burial of his late wife, Mrs. Nkechi Florence Elijah.

According to Amah, his wife died on April 9, 2025, and her remains have remained in the mortuary since then due to an unresolved dispute.

He alleged that the Eze of his community, Eze Linus Nto Mba, has continued to prevent him from burying his wife despite a court order which, according to him, granted him the legal right to proceed with the burial.

Amah further claimed that members of his late wife’s family requested the release of her remains and submitted statements, including an affidavit, to the police in support of releasing the body. However, he alleged that the remains have still not been released.

He also alleged that the dispute began after he demanded transparency and accountability in the management of community affairs. According to him, he wrote to the community leadership requesting that the annual New Yam Festival be celebrated in line with tradition and also demanded an account of revenue generated from two telecommunications masts situated on community land.

Amah alleged that Eze Linus Nto Mba informed members of the community that about ₦12 million had been received from the telecommunications companies over a period of 17 years. He also claimed that the Eze stated he personally spent an additional ₦8 million on grading community farm roads and that the community now owes him the money.

He said some community members who supported his position were forced to flee the community, adding that the community’s Traditional Eze, Eze Ogo, who allegedly supported his request to bury his late wife, was declared removed from office.

However, some members of the community maintain that the said Eze Ogo remained the substantive Traditional Eze, arguing that under the customs and traditions of Umuzomgbo, a Traditional Eze cannot be removed or replaced during his lifetime by any individual or group.

This claim has not been independently verified.

Amah also alleged that following the intervention of Ndi Eze of Abia State, he was arrested on April 11, 2025, and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According to him, he was granted bail on May 16, 2025, through the intervention of his in-laws.

He alleged that he was arrested again on September 2, 2025, allegedly at the instance of Eze Linus Nto Mba, and remained in detention until December 17, 2025, when he regained his freedom following a court order.

Hon. Amah appealed to the Abia State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly, ensure that justice is served, and enable him to give his late wife a dignified burial.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Eze Linus Nto Mba to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.