The Edo State Government has suspended the
traditional ruler of Uromi (Ojuromi of Uromi)
Zaiki Edenojie II, for one year over failure to
apologise to the married woman he
assaulted on Sept. 28.
A statement dated November 4th and signed
by the Secretary to the State Government,
Prof Julius Ihonvbere, said the monarch was
suspended for failing to apologise within a
stipulated period to Mrs Betty Okoebor,
whom he was alleged to have assaulted,
taking over the cattle market and stalls built
by the operators of the cattle market,
banning eight butchers from doing business
in Uromi market, among other infractions.
His remuneration from the 5 per cent
monthly FAC allocation to the LG shall also
be appropriated and donated to orphanages
during the period of suspension. The state
government had initially suspended the
traditional ruler for for 7 days. Days later, he
reconciled with the woman and her her
family members. The statement reads:
"It is instructive to note that in your “Letter
of Apology” of 28th October, 2016, you
trivialised the gravity of your misconduct by
describing what took place in public glare on
the 28th of September, where you were the
assailant as an ‘altercation’ and ‘family
affair’.
"The governor observed in your letter of
apology that your activities since you were
initially suspended from office as Ojuromi of
Uromi have raised issues that require further
determination.
"To ridicule the Edo State government and
deride the directive that you apologise to Ms.
Okoebor, you proceeded to organise a
‘forgiveness Session’ in your palace in your
capacity as Ojuromi, wearing a crown even
when you were still suspended from office,
purporting to be ‘forgiving’ Ms. Okoebor."
The statement added that government also
received official security reports as to "high
handedness in addressing relations with
operators of the cattle market in Uromi to
wit: unilaterally dissolve their association,
appoint your preferred person to head the
association and banishing their elected
leader from Uromi.
"Others infraction are illegally taking over of
the cattle market and stalls that they built
themselves, banning about eight butchers
from doing business in the Uromi market and
assigning the responsibility for collecting
revenue for the local government council to
your own preferred person even without
authority from the Council among other
infractions. These are not the actions of a
law abiding traditional ruler who believes in
promoting peace, unity and development.
"In view of the facts established above,
taking cognizance of your letter of apology
that falls short of the public apology
expected from you within the stipulated time,
and the earlier suspension letter which had
specified dethronement after seven days, the
government of Edo State hereby commutes
your dethronement to a one-year suspension
from office as Ojuromi of Uromi in
accordance with Section 28(1) of the
Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979)
with effect from November 7, 2016
"During this period of suspension under
extant laws, you are hereby stripped of all
the privileges and rights of the Ojuromi of
Uromi and barred from performing any duty
whatsoever in that regard.
By virtue of this
suspension from office, your remuneration
from the five percent monthly FAC allocation
to the Local Government shall be
appropriated and donated during this
period."
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