Tension in Abia Over Secret Plan to bury Late Monarch without autopsy, family
-Widow Accused of Jumping Bail, Plotting Secret Burial with Security Agencies’ Protection
Fresh tension is brewing in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State following the approval of a petition by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) concerning the controversial circumstances surrounding the death and planned burial of HRH Eze Samuel Ajiri of Ntalakwu-Oboro.
The petition, authored by the law firm of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. M. O. Ubani, on behalf of Prince Dike Ajiri, the first son and heir apparent of the late monarch, accused the deceased’s second wife, Mrs. Chinwe Ajiri, of attempting to secretly and unlawfully bury the traditional ruler without the consent of the immediate family or the Ikwuano Council of Traditional Rulers. Most critically, the widow has allegedly blocked efforts to conduct a government-supervised autopsy to determine the true cause and time of the monarch’s death.
In a major development, the Inspector General of Police has now officially approved the petition, directing immediate action to forestall any unlawful burial and ensure full compliance with investigative procedures.
According to the petition dated June 9, 2025, the late Eze allegedly passed in September 2024, but the death was concealed from the larger family until January 2025. Mrs. Chinwe is reported to have provided conflicting accounts of the date of death and even procured a falsified death certificate bearing December 2024, which her children allegedly attempted to use in a failed effort to claim death benefits in the United States.
Police investigations later uncovered a mortuary tag showing the true date of death as September 2024, casting serious doubts over the widow’s narrative. Notably, she was the only person living with the monarch in Port Harcourt at the time of his death.
Following her initial arrest, Mrs. Chinwe was granted administrative bail but has since jumped bail, ignoring repeated invitations from Zone 9 Police Headquarters, Umuahia.
Despite a clear directive from the IGP affirming Zone 9’s jurisdiction over the matter, she allegedly attempted to divert the case to FCID Enugu and waged a smear campaign against investigating officers using Bekete Family Radio and petitions to the Police Service Commission, all in an effort to obstruct justice.
The IGP-approved petition warns of a dangerous plot now unfolding: Mrs. Chinwe is allegedly working with unspecified security personnel to carry out a secret burial this June, in defiance of police orders, family opposition, and cultural norms.
“This plan, if permitted, threatens to provoke serious communal unrest and a breakdown of law and order in Ikwuano,” the petition noted, warning that the move constitutes a grave violation of due process, traditional rites, and the rights of the deceased’s immediate family.
The law firm of Ubani SAN & Co. has therefore urged the Inspector General to take the following urgent steps, now approved:
- Reaffirm Zone 9’s jurisdiction to complete the full investigation, including conducting a mandatory autopsy.
- Prevent the deployment of any police or paramilitary support to facilitate an unauthorized burial.
- Suspend all burial activities until a full autopsy is completed and family members are appropriately involved.
- Compel Mrs. Chinwe Ajiri to submit to police authority and cooperate with the investigation.
Family sources say burying the monarch without a postmortem would permanently destroy critical evidence, undermining the quest for justice.
“This is not just about tradition. It’s about the truth. We deserve to know how our father died,” said Prince Dike Ajiri in a telephone interview.
The Ikwuano Traditional Rulers Council, alongside other prominent stakeholders in Abia State, are monitoring developments closely and have expressed their firm disapproval of any plan to bury the monarch in secret.
Both security agencies and the general public are now being strongly warned not to participate in or support any burial arrangements that violate due process, pending the conclusion of investigations as directed by the IGP.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Barrister Joseph Igwe
Head of Chambers, Ubani SAN & Co.,
Legal Practitioners to Prince Dike Ajiri.
