Tension is mounting in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State over an alleged plot to bury the late traditional ruler of Ntalakwu-Oboro, HRH Eze Samuel Ajiri, without an autopsy or the consent of his immediate family and traditional institutions.
A petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), approved last week, has sparked fresh controversy after accusing the monarch’s widow, Mrs. Chinwe Ajiri, of attempting to carry out a secret burial with the protection of unnamed security personnel.
The petition, filed by the law firm of M. O. Ubani SAN & Co, on behalf of the monarch’s first son and heir apparent, Prince Dike Ajiri, outlines grave concerns over the mysterious circumstances surrounding the monarch’s death and alleged attempts to conceal the truth.
According to the petition dated June 9, 2025, the monarch died in September 2024 while residing in Port Harcourt with his second wife, Chinwe. However, the family was only informed months later, in January 2025. The delay and subsequent inconsistencies in Mrs. Ajiri’s account reportedly raised suspicions.
The widow is accused of producing a falsified death certificate dated December 2024.
Her children allegedly used the document in an unsuccessful attempt to access the late monarch’s entitlements abroad.
Police investigations, however, discovered a mortuary tag confirming the actual date of death as September 2024.
“She gave conflicting accounts of the monarch’s passing and has blocked all efforts for a proper autopsy,” the petition stated. “This is a deliberate effort to cover up the actual cause and circumstances of death.”
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After her initial arrest and release on administrative bail, Mrs. Ajiri reportedly evaded subsequent police invitations.
The Zone 9 Police Command in Umuahia, which was directed by the IGP to handle the case, was allegedly sidelined by the widow, who attempted to move the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Enugu.
She is also accused of launching a media campaign on Bekete Family Radio and filing petitions against investigating officers in a bid to frustrate the process.
With police approval now secured for a full investigation, Dr. Ubani’s chambers have urged the IGP to halt any burial plan until a government-supervised autopsy is carried out.
According to the petition, “Mrs. Chinwe Ajiri is allegedly working with some compromised security officers to conduct an illegal burial this June, despite ongoing investigations. If this is allowed, it may lead to serious communal unrest.”
Speaking in a telephone interview, Prince Dike Ajiri said, “This is not just about tradition. It’s about the truth. We deserve to know how our father died.”
The petition warns that proceeding with a burial without due process and family involvement would not only obstruct justice but also violate Igbo cultural norms and the dignity of the throne.
The law firm has demanded that the police:Reaffirm Zone 9’s jurisdiction to oversee the case; Block all unauthorized security support for the burial; Suspend burial activities until an autopsy is completed; and compel Mrs. Ajiri to cooperate fully with investigators.
The Ikwuano Traditional Rulers Council has also waded into the matter, expressing strong opposition to any burial plan that excludes traditional oversight or the consent of the monarch’s immediate family.
