By Chris Emecheta
Leadership of Ishi Ubomiri Town Union and Traditional Council recently published an order in Horn Newspaper on January 24th and Eastern Lead Express on January 28th, warning Barr. Mrs. Ogechi Henrietta Amuchienwa to stop desecrating the Traditional Stool of Ishi Ubomiri with series her publication on the exhumation of her late husband Late Chief, Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa, allegedly sponsored by her.
In reality; is a covered truth, the open truth is that the land was desecrated when the deceased was exhumed at night without health personnel, precautionary health measures, or traditional appeasement of the gods, an abominable act reportedly spearheaded by former wife of the deceased separated for over 32 years.
The bitter truth is that the information she presented to the temple of Justice is total falsehood, the indigenous people of Ishi Ubomiri on the path of truth, Justice and fairness can testify there's no atom of truth in her prayers before the temple of justice.
When the Traditional Ruler of Ishi Ubomiri was invited through a letter addressed to him on the matter to ensure that siblings of the deceased and the separated wife of over 32 years and her children were accommodated in the burial agenda, the subject matter discussed at his Royal Temple was to ensure that her children were accommodated.
From reports, her children distanced themselves from their father, when he suffered kidney failure on the purported instruction of their mother. When he died, they reportedly said they were not interested in his burial. During discussion and deliberations, the entire community can testify there was no allegations of stabing the deceased to death at that point by anybody.
The second time the burial issue was raised , it was when his siblings he warned not to see his corpse that sought for cancellation of his burial date at customary court Nworieubi, simply because the date clashed with burial date of one of their in-laws in Mbieri, it involved Anty Maria, there was also no report or allegations of stabing the deceased to death at that point.
At the Customary Court, when the siblings went to court, the separated wife of the deceased of over 32 years was not joined in the matter, simply because they knew she was no longer the wife of their late brother and had no locus standi in the case. She was neither among those who sued nor among those who were sued, because she was no longer the deceased wife for over 32 years and her son is not the first son of the deceased. They knew she was completely irrelevant and had no legitimacy when it came to deciding the burial date.
Those the siblings sued were the deceased’s legitimate wife, Barr. Mrs. Ogechi Henrietta Amuchienwa, and the Amuchienwa Family Head, Pastor Goddy Amuchienwa. They did not even include Mr. Aboyemi Francis, who is the deceased’s first son.
In Igbo culture, the first son decides burial date of his father and leads in the preparation, with the family head's endorsement. The onus lies on Aboyemi and Pastor Goddy Amuchienwa, the first son and Amuchienwa family head, respectively.
Please read in between the lines to understand why they sued these people.
LET'S TAKE NOTE OF THIS; AT THE PALACE AND MAGISTRATE COURT, THERE WAS NO CASE OR REPORT THAT THE DECEASED WAS STABBED TO DEATH.
The foundation of this mischievousness deceit was laid about three days to the burial by the separated wife who jumped into crisis created by the siblings of the deceased with their desperation to ensure cancellation of the burial date of a man they abandoned when he suffered kidney failure close to two years.
When the separated wife of the deceased known for her troublesome lifestyle joined forces with the siblings of her former husband, few days to the burial. In less than three days to burial, she went to Tiger Base and mobilised for arrest of Aboyemi Frances Amuchienwa, legitimate wife of the deceased, Barr Mrs Ogechi Henrietta Amuchienwa and Amuchienwa Family Head, Pastor Goddy Amuchienwa with desperation to stop the burial from taking place.
When her efforts at Tiger Base failed as ACP Oladimeji, Odeyeyiwa, saw the truth and discharged them. He further gave the Family Head and the legitimate wife of the deceased, Barr. Mrs Ogechi Henrietta police security to go and bury the dead, stating there is no reason to stop the burial after listening to a video the deceased made with his lawyer in 2023, stating that these his siblings should not see his corpse or participate in his burial because of the way they abandoned him on sick bed when he was alive.
Unfortunately; after the Tiger Base Drama on 15th of October, this same separated wife of the deceased did not relent, on the same 15th of October 2025, she rushed to Court with a different mischievous allegations that the deceased was stabbed to death and needed an autopsy. The whole community kept quiet at this sudden mischievous frame up without evidence simply because she has the silent support of some wealthy personalities from the community.
Looking at all the discrepancies on issues addressed at the palace for them to be accommodated, the issues raised at Tiger Base and the Customary Court for cancellation of the burial date, they have all have raised big questions about her intentions and issues she presented at the court.
There are pertinent thought provoking and eye opening questions that will surely shed more lights and play up signs that the Court may have been deceived before issuing an order for the exhumation of Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa.
If may asked, did this separated wife of the deceased who went to court, told the court; she was separated from the deceased for over 32 years? By this separation; was there any marriage in the eyes of the law?
The question on the lips of many is this: did this same seperated wife who has not been to the deceased house in Kano for over 32 years presented her witness to the court, the so-called security guard who informed her that the deceased was stabbed? for questions and cross-examination.
Many are sensing potential deception and covering of key facts due to the absence of her witness.
From credible family sources, the burial ended around 1:35 while the family of the deceased received an order not to bury around 3:45.
It is a well-known fact that in exhumation, there are processes to follow: both parties involved must be present, is not carried out by one party, but that was what happened to the exhumation of the deceased.
In exhumation security agents like police must be present, a Medical Team must be there, a pathologist must be there, the mortuary it is taken to for autopsy must be stated, it will be a daytime affair, not a night time affair as seen in the exhumation of Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa.
What they did at night by breaking into the compound in a commando manner, beat the security man, was it what the law stated? Obviously; the questionable exhumation cannot be waved aside, as there are glaring signs that the court may have been deceived before the order was issued.
From a bird's eye view, prominent Imo sons close to Late Chief Donatus Ifeanyichukwu Amuchienwa are not happy with the way things are going on issues concerning the exhumation and disappearance of his body.
They have not failed to encourage Barr. Mrs. Ogechi Henrietta Amuchienwa, to keep faith with the judiciary with strong assurance that any wrong that led to misinformation or deceiving the court can be corrected.
For educative purpose, some signs that the court may have been deceived in a matter are seen in procedural irregularities, lack of required steps, absence of due process, lack of detailed information, lack of evidence, or ignoring rules in handling the matter.
Other signs include misrepresentation, withholding or twisting vital facts, inconsistencies, discrepancies in documents on information presented to the court, and new contradictory information when fresh evidence emerges that challenges the court's assumptions.
Concerned people of Ubomiri are saying all these years she has been separated from her Late husband for 32 years before his demise, why was she not there for him?, she never cared, even when he was on sick bed.
They are also asking why the corpse of the deceased is so important to them? even when the deceased has said they should not see his corpse or participate in his burial because of the way they abandoned him in sickness.The million dollar question that demands a clear answer is this; where did they kept his corpse and what are they doing with his corpse after the exhumed him? Did the Court order them to exhumed the body and keep it in unknown destination,?
The people of Ishi Ubomiri have hinted that when Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa died, it was reported that this separated wife of over 32 years said she and her children are not interested in the burial. I strongly believe that some took note of her comments about the burial.
Another piece of information the court should take note of is that Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa stayed in the morgue for about five months; there was no accusation of any foul play about his death. This allegation came up a two days before the burial of the deceased.
She claims that a security guard in the deceased's house told her but family sources are saying; such name she mentioned as a security guard never existed in their Kano residence when the the deceased was alive. On this she needs to provide the Security Guard for identification by members of Amuchienwa Family.
In addition, if her allegation is real, why did she not call the police or any security agents immediately for arrest, investigation, and prosecution? Sweeping all these vital information under the carpet to seek justice is a sign of deception.
Absence of all these may signal that the judiciary may have been deceived in a judicial decision that led to the exhumation order.
When the court notices any form of deceit, the onus is on it to ensure that justice is served and the truth revealed.
Observers in this matter are suggesting that the court should always watch against lack of credible information that may tarnish the image of the court, as they expressed believe that there are indications, the temple of Justice may have been desecrated with lies before the exhumation order.
Indeed the case of Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa has raised questions about the motive of those who delight in deceiving the court just to cover up truth, destroy credibility of facts and figures, distort, accountability and transparency in judicial processes, there is need to address it in order to avert miscarriage of Justice.