By Mick Oseji, Asaba
A member of the prestigious chieftaincy title of Alor in Asaba Kingdom in Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State, Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onyekaonwufuju, has lost his title over stolen Ikenga Iyase Ahaba.
Onwufuju who is also said to be the Ohene Ahaba and Chief Priest of Onishe deity, may face criminal prosecution in connection with the stolen sacred deity – Ikenga Iyase Ahaba.
The Daily Crucible had earlier reported that the Ikenga Iyase Ahaba domiciled at the residence of the late Iyase Ahaba, Obi P.I.G. Onyeobi of Idumuojei Village, Umuezei Quarters got missing on Friday morning, a strange occurrence that compelled the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, to promptly launch an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the missing deity.
It was further gathered that a classified security report revealed that Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju (aka Akwazia) of Ogbeosowe Village, Ugbomenta Quarters, allegedly stole the Ikenga Iyase.
The strange occurrence also prompted the Asagba of Asaba to give him a 24 – hour ultimatum to find, locate and return the Ikenga to its rightful location while other persons found to have substantially aided the circumstances leading to the Ikenga deity being stolen will also be sanctioned in line with the resolutions of an emergency meeting of the Asagba executive council on December 12, 2025.
According some sources close to Ogbeosowe Village, Ugbomenta Quarters, his community, the Ohene Asaba was among the indigenes hoping to become the next Iyase of Asaba, a chieftaincy title that became vacant with the demise of late Iyase Ahaba, Obi P.I.G. Onyeobi of Idumuojei Village.
However, The Daily Crucible gathered that Ogbueshi Onwufuju has returned the stolen item on Saturday, according to the Asagba Palace Secretariat.
The Palace going forward stripped him of his traditional title as a consequence of his action which His Royal Majesty Asagba Epiphany Azinge deemed not only “abominable but also condemnable.”
He ceases to be a member of the prestigious Alor Title holders in Asaba and henceforth disqualified from contesting, vying or rather aspiring to any traditional office in Asaba, including that of the Iyase stool.
“Mr Ndubuisi Onwufuju (aka Akwazia) returns the Ikenga Iyase stolen by him yesterday, the 12th day of December 2025, to the residence of Obi P. I. G Onyeobi (late Iyase of Ahaba). At the moment, the Ikenga is comfortably seated on its position after it was returned by Akwazia, who was accompanied by security agencies and few Asaba persons.
“It is pertinent to emphasize that all the sanctions earlier pronounced by HRM Asagba Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, on Mr Ndubuisi Onwufuju still stands. On that premise, law enforcement agencies are also expected to discharge their duties appropriately and in accordance with the law.
“This is for the information of the general public.,” the Palace Secretariat stated.
Below were the resolutions of the Asagba executive council meeting earlier taken against Onwufuju for his alleged abominable action.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025.
Asaba community woke up this morning the 12th day of December, 2025 with the surprising and disturbing news that the Ikenga Iyase Ahaba domiciled at the residence of the late Iyase Ahaba, Obi P.I.G. Onyeobi of Idumuojei Village, Umuezei Quarters was missing. His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge SAN, instantly launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the missing Ikenga. Classified security report revealed that the missing Ikenga was stolen by Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju (aka Akwazia) of Ogbeosowe Village, Ugbomenta Quarters. According to the report, Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju, accompanied by numerous armed men besieged the home of Obi P.I.G. Onyeobi at about 2.00 am and made away with the Ikenga.
Having gotten this clarification, His Royal Majesty directed the Asaba Community Vigilante, led by Ogbueshi Nnamdi Chukwuedo to go after Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju and retrieve the Ikenga from him. The Vigilante team traced Akwazia to his home in Ogbeosowe where he was found with Obi Chiedu Chichi and host of other persons celebrating. He was then apprehended and taken to the Palace of His Royal Majesty, who directed them to take him to the Area Command Office of the Nigeria Police Force.
His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, instantly convoked an emergency Asagba Executive Council Meeting, comprising of the Okpala Ukwu of the five Quarters of Asaba, the Traditional Chiefs, host of Ndi Obi Ahaba, host of NdiOlinzele, Palace Secretariat Staff etc, which sole agendum was to deliberate on the next line of action. The meeting which commenced at exactly 4.00 pm of same day was briefed by His Royal Majesty, on the atrocity committed by Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju. He informed the Council that although he has directed that the criminal angle of the matter be handled by the Nigerian Police, the traditional angle to it must be dealt with decisively by the Asaba people. Members of the Council took time to deliberate and evaluate the matter critically and came up with the conclusion that Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju’s action was not only abominable but also condemnable. The Council therefore resolved to treat it with heavy sanction to serve as a deterrent to others in future. It was also taken as stealing or rather armed robbery, so much so, as the procedural guideline for the selection of the next Iyase Ahaba which ought to commence with a communication from the Palace to the people of Ugbomenta is yet to be initiated.
Based on all the available compelling facts, the Council adopted the following resolutions:
1. That Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju (aka Akwazia) be given 24 hours starting from today the 12th day of December, 2025 to immediately return the Ikenga Iyase which he forcefully removed from Obi P.I.G. Onyeobi’s residence in Idumuojei Village.
2. That he must personally return the Ikenga to where he removed it from and also perform the necessary cleansing and atonements such slaughtering of a ram and performance of other needed sacrifices.
3. That immediately he returns the stolen Ikenga to where he removed it from, he ceases to be a member of the prestigious Alor Title holders in Asaba.
4. That he is henceforth disqualified from contesting, vying or rather aspiring to any traditional office in Asaba, including that of the Iyase stool.
5. It was also resolved that the Nigerian Police Force be given free hand to prosecute him in line with extant laws of the land for stealing and unlawful possession of firearm.
6. That any Asaba person found to be complicit either by aiding, abating, supporting, cheering or directly connected with Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju in carrying out the dastardly act is liable to a fine of N500,000.00. (Five hundred thousand naira) only.
7. That Obi Chiedu Chichi who was seen with Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju and who has openly confessed of supporting him with the act, is instantly striped off his title as an Obi Ahaba for a period of one year, on the expiration of which he is to pay the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two million naira) only and two live cows to Asagba in Council.
8. The Council thereafter, agreed to send 2 emissaries from amongst them to visit Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju, to inform him of their decision and the window of time opened to him to comply. The delegation came back with the information that Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju blatantly refused to abide by the decision of the Asagba Executive Council.
Based on the report from the delegation sent to meet with Ogbueshi Ndubuisi Onwufuju, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge SAN, in exercise of his powers as the prescribed authority in Asaba native law and custom striped Ndubuisi Onwufuju of his Alor Title for life. He also issued a decree barring him from contesting for the Iyase or any other traditional office in Asaba for his lifetime.
Finally, His Royal Majesty has directed that the police should pursue the prosecution of charges to a logical conclusion.
The Meeting rose at 6.25p.m,
Palace Secretariat.
