Abuja, NIGERIA – In a jaw-dropping twist to the already dramatic Ogwashi-Uku kingship saga, the royal family is now thrust into the global spotlight, with Professor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the esteemed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), standing at the epicenter of a fierce battle between her brothers, Prince Nathan Okonjo, Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo and Obi Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo, over the throne of their late father, Obi Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo.
A fresh chapter in the contentious Ogwashi-Uku kingship struggle unfolded at the just concluded Panel of Inquiry, as two senior members of the Okonjo royal family, Prince Nathan Okonjo and Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo, made dramatic claims challenging the eligibility of Obi Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo to sit on the throne of Ogwashi-Uku, claiming that he is neither the first nor second male child of the late Obi and therefore ineligible to ascend the throne.
The royal brothers argue that according to the traditional Ogwashi-Uku succession law of primogeniture, they are the rightful heirs. In their testimony before the panel of inquiry, they asserted that the current king was not entitled to the throne, setting the stage for a legal and family showdown of unprecedented proportions.
But what makes this royal feud even more explosive is the involvement of Professor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a towering global figure, who, despite her influential role at the WTO, now finds herself linked to a bitter dispute over her father’s crown. As the elder sister of the princes battling for their father’s throne, she remains a key figure in the high-stakes drama that has rocked the royal family and captivated the public’s attention.
Prince Nathan Okonjo, who has been at the forefront of challenging the current monarch’s ascension, presented his case with unwavering conviction.
According to Prince Nathan, Obi Ifechukwude’s claim to the throne is invalid based on the traditional principles of primogeniture—the succession system that designates the firstborn male child as the rightful heir.
Prince Nathan asserted that Obi Ifechukwude, being neither the first nor the second male child of the late Obi Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, was not entitled to the throne. He emphasized that the Ogwashi-Uku monarchy had long adhered to this principle, and if it had been followed strictly, neither Obi Ifechukwude nor his predecessor would have been the king.
Prince Nathan went on to give a detailed historical account, tracing the royal lineage to the time of King Obahan, the last legitimate monarch to ascend under the principle of primogeniture. He lamented that after King Obahan’s reign, the traditional system had been discarded, and instead, kings were chosen through a less predictable, often controversial, selection process. T
his, according to Prince Nathan, led to the ongoing kingship crisis that has continued to disrupt the royal family and the Ogwashi-Uku community at large.
However, his testimony was met with fierce resistance during cross-examination by Prince Chike Onyemenam, SAN, the Counsel to Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo. Prince Onyemenam pointed to a significant legal setback for Prince Nathan—specifically, a 2001 ruling by Hon. Justice A.O. Maidoh of the State High Court that had dismissed a suit questioning Obi Ifechukwude’s qualification to the throne.
In response, Prince Nathan acknowledged the ruling but maintained that he was determined to challenge it. He revealed that an appeal was pending at the Court of Appeal, with a crucial hearing set for January 15, 2025.
Prince Nathan is hoping that the Appellate Court will overturn the 2001 judgment and pave the way for his own coronation as the rightful king of Ogwashi-Uku.
The inquiry took a dramatic turn when the issue of criminal conviction surfaced. Prince Nathan confirmed under cross-examination that Obi Ifechukwude and his brother, Onyema, had been convicted in a Court in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA.
According to Prince Nathan and his legal team, this conviction disqualifies the current king from holding the throne, as Ogwashi-Uku custom forbids the ascension of any individual with a criminal record, whether convicted locally or abroad. This revelation further deepened the rift within the royal family, as allegations of criminality now hang over the current king’s eligibility.
The legal saga continued with testimony from Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo, the elder brother of Obi Ifechukwude and the second son of the late Obi Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo.
Prince Ikechukwu expressed frustration over being sidelined in the selection process for the throne, emphasizing that, according to royal tradition, he should have been crowned king in the absence of the firstborn.
Prince Ikechukwu, a claimant to the throne himself and second male child, presented a compelling argument that he, not his younger brother and third male child, is the legitimate heir and the rightful king of Ogwashi-Uku.
Prince Ikechukwu’s testimony was supported by a written deposition and affidavits, which were tendered as exhibits before the Commission.
He strongly criticized the coronation process, claiming that it had been flawed and unjust. During his testimony, Prince Ikechukwu also highlighted the ongoing legal battle surrounding the throne, revealing that his case had been transmitted from the Supreme Court to the State High Court for retrial.
He expressed confidence that the retrial would result in a favorable outcome, allowing him to reclaim his birthright and restore what he sees as the rightful order of succession.
The inquiry has now become a pivotal moment in the royal family’s tumultuous history. The testimonies of Prince Nathan and Prince Ikechukwu have raised fundamental questions about the legitimacy of the current Ogwashi-Uku monarch, Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, and the very future of the kingdom’s monarchy.
The legal proceedings, at the Commission is set to reshape the course of Ogwashi-Uku’s royal lineage, with both Princes locked in an intense battle for control of the throne.
In the wider context, the kingship crisis has had far-reaching implications for the Ogwashi-Uku community. The panel of inquiry, tasked with investigating not only the royal succession but also contentious land disputes with neighboring communities, is at the heart of a broader struggle for political power and cultural authority.
The outcome of the case is expected to have profound consequences for the kingdom’s future, impacting everything from governance and land rights to the social fabric of the region.
As the legal drama unfolds, the eyes of the entire Ogwashi-Uku community, and indeed the wider nation, remain firmly fixed on the Panel of Inquiry and the pending appeals.
With each new revelation and legal twist, the battle for the Ogwashi-Uku throne promises to be one of the most closely watched and fiercely contested royal disputes in recent Nigerian history.
Credit: Time Africa Magazine