Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared the banishment of Dr. Eni Uduma Chima, former chairman of Edda Local Government Area, and his younger brother, Uduma Chima, as unconstitutional and void.
The governor emphasized that the action taken by the town union against the two brothers violates the principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"We disagree on the banishment, we disagreed on one condition, that this banishment cannot hold because this banishment negates the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and because of that it cannot stand," Governor Nwifuru stated.
The Edda community, known for its volatility, has been experiencing recurring crises stemming from power struggles among political figures in the area. These conflicts have resulted in killings, injuries, and destruction of property worth millions of naira over the past two months.
The latest incident occurred on Wednesday when Udu Nnachi Uzor, a community member, was murdered by gunmen in his residence. His widow, Onyinye, who is nursing a two-month-old baby along with three other children, alleged that a member of a political group known as Catcham Boys killed her husband. She identified the suspect as Deri and called for his arrest.
Prior to this murder, the town union and some stakeholders had pronounced a seven-year banishment on the former local government chairman and his brother, with an imposed fine of N106 million to be paid upon their return. This pronouncement has further escalated tensions within the community.
Governor's Intervention
Visibly angered by the developments, Governor Nwifuru summoned the warring factions to his office on Friday in an effort to find a lasting resolution to the crisis. During the meeting, he issued several directives:
No civilian in the community, regardless of status, is permitted to bear arms
All warring groups in the area are disbanded
The Mac truck belonging to Eni, which was allegedly diverted, should be returned to him
All warring groups should collapse their structures under the leadership of the town union and the community's traditional ruler
The Ekoli Police Post should be reactivated to address the security situation comprehensively
"No civilian, no matter who that person is, whether it's Catcham Boys, whether it's Trigger-happy Boys, whether it's Amnesty Boys, anyone found with any ammunition or arms should be dealt with according to the rule of law," the governor warned.
The situation in Edda highlights the complex interplay between traditional governance structures and constitutional rights in Nigeria's local communities, raising questions about the limits of community sanctions in a constitutional democracy.
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