Enugu Govt Warns South Africa-Based Traditional Ruler Over Alleged Intimidation Of Residents, Abduction Of Election Officials | Sahara Reporters

Speaking to SaharaReporters, community members accused the monarch, who they say has led for more than two decades, of intimidation and abuse of power.

Residents of Agunese Mmaku Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, say they are living in fear amid allegations that their traditional ruler, HRH Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi, has disrupted a town union election and abducted electoral officials.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, community members accused the monarch, who they say has led for more than two decades, of intimidation and abuse of power. They also alleged that he governs the community while living in South Africa.

The latest dispute arose on September 18, 2026, the eve of a long-planned town union election. In a petition dated September 21 and addressed to the Enugu State governor and the commissioner for chieftaincy affairs and rural development, the community alleged that the incumbent President General, Simeon Okike; the electoral committee chairman, Euzebus Okolo; and the committee secretary, Richard Ukekwe, were abducted and taken to an unknown location.

The petition, titled “Gross abuse of office, high-headedness, intimidation, harassment, and threats to the lives and liberty of indigenes of Agunese Mmaku Autonomous Community by HRH Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi,” was signed by Okafor Vincent, principal attorney at OPUSDEI Chambers and legal adviser to the community’s town union.
A community source, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, described the situation as one of ongoing intimidation.
“We are living in fear every day. This man has turned our community into his personal kingdom. He decides who leads us, who gets arrested, and who goes to prison. On the day of the election, he sent his thugs to abduct our officials. We waited for hours, but they never showed up. We later heard they were taken to an unknown location on his orders,” the source said.
“We have tried everything. We have written to the police, the DSS, and now the Governor. We are pleading with the Governor to save us before this man causes bloodshed. Our people are fed up,” the source added.
A voice note circulating on community WhatsApp platforms allegedly features the traditional ruler’s media spokesperson confirming that the officials were abducted to prevent the election from taking place. The spokesperson allegedly said a caretaker committee led by the traditional ruler’s associate, Onuseluogu Nevobasi, would be formed instead.
The petition alleges that this is the second time in four years the monarch has disrupted a democratic process in the community. In December 2021, it says, he disrupted an election at Abodonu Mkpurupku Square after it became clear that his preferred candidate was likely to lose.
The petition also alleges that violence accompanied the monarch’s ascension to the throne more than two decades ago. It says two people died, including Chief Festus Akpu and Chidiebere Ogbonna, a minor who was killed when a group described in the petition as the monarch’s supporters attacked his mother. The petition further alleges that several houses were destroyed and elderly residents displaced. They returned after the intervention of Sam Ugwuozor, then chief of staff.
“No sooner than the resolution was published at the Agunese Mmaku Autonomous Community progressive forum, we received a voice note from the palace where Cyprian Nevobasi was heard threatening to deal with the 16 men who dared to challenge him,” the petition reads.

Okafor also described his own alleged ordeal to SaharaReporters.
“On the 5th of September 2024, I was arrested in my Lagos office at 36 Ibezim Obiajulu Street, Surulere, and first taken to Lagos State CID, Panti. From there, I was flown to Enugu the following day and taken straight from the airport to the court on trumped-up charges. The Nigerian Bar Association had to intervene before I was released after 12 days,” he said.

The petition names other community members who it alleges have faced charges or detention at the traditional ruler’s instigation. They include Engineer Theophilus Chukwu, who was allegedly rearrested at the prison gate after meeting his bail conditions and spent another three months in custody; musician David Okeke, who spent six months in Enugu prison; and Emmanuel Uwa Okeke, who was detained for 18 days after returning from Spain.
The petition says Chief Ifeanyi Christopher Okeke has been in Enugu prison since November 30, 2025, over what it describes as an unfounded murder allegation. It claims his only “offence” was being the younger brother of Chief Emmanuel Uwa Okeke.
A resident who identified herself as Mama Ngozi told SaharaReporters, “This man has destroyed our community. Our children cannot come home to invest. Our young men are arrested for no reason. He said he became Igwe through the barrels of his guns. Is that how a traditional ruler should speak?”

The petition also raises questions about the identity of the person named on the community’s Igweship recognition certificate and the person currently occupying the traditional stool.
“Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi is ordinarily resident in South Africa, where he is a permanent resident and an international passport-carrying citizen. He goes around with ‘MADUABUCHI’ as his surname to deliberately mislead the public,” the petition states.

It argues that this would violate the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Law, which it says requires traditional rulers to reside in the communities they govern.
The petition further accuses the monarch of boasting about his wealth. It quotes him as saying he is the only person in Mmaku with a car worth more than ₦400 million and the only person to have shaken hands with former President Muhammadu Buhari. The petition also alleges that he likened the community to “the Biafrans of Nigeria who were conquered during the war and have no right to contribute anything in Nigeria again.”
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Rural Development Dr Charles Egumgbe confirmed that the government had sent a warning letter to the traditional ruler.
“We have received the petition, and I can confirm that a warning letter has been dispatched to HRH Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi. We put another warning letter to the traditional ruler. The traditional ruler of Mmaku community had been warned again. He intimidates his people and locked them up, using police,” the commissioner said.
“The government is aware of the situation and is taking the allegations seriously. We will not allow any traditional ruler to operate above the law.”

Egumgbe added that the state government was committed to maintaining peace and order in communities across the state.
The petition urged the governor to intervene to prevent possible violence.

SaharaReporters was unable to reach the traditional ruler for comment. He is reportedly in South Africa. His spokesperson, Onuseluogu Nevobasi, who the petition identifies as the proposed caretaker committee chairman, could not be reached by phone.
He had not responded to a text message seeking comment by the time this report was filed.