Commissioner Stripped of Chieftaincy Title by Monarch, Banned from Palace

The traditional ruler of Ozalla Kingdom in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, the Onotare of Ozalla Kingdom, His Royal Highness Nathaniel Igelugbo Omogbai, has stripped the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Uyi Oduwa-Malaka of her honourary chieftaincy title.

The commissioner was stripped of the chieftaincy title, the Uzoyare of Ozalla Kingdom by the traditional ruler.

A press statement signed by the palace spokesman, Dr Osumah Obaze, made available to newsmen in Benin City, said the royal father also stripped one George Ohioma of his title of the Ozemevboya of Ozalla kingdom.

The monarch banned the duo from the palace with immediate effect.

The statement said the title formerly conferred on George Ohioma was now an exclusive preserve of “Ozalla freeborns”.

The statement added that the revocation of the title conferred on the commissioner by the traditional ruler was to serve as a deterrent to others with the intention of desecrating the respected throne.

The embattled commissioner was alleged to have disrespected the monarch by asking him to meet her in the car when she drove into the palace on the 12th April, 2024.

According to the statement, her legion of offences, among others, included openly insulting the Onotare and for not paying obeisance to the Onotare of Ozalla on 13th April, 2024, during Ivbamen festival in the presence of the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and the Chairman, Owan West Local Government, Dickson Ahonsi, and for openly boasting to remove the traditional ruler from office.

In the same vein, the Onotare of Ozalla, His Royal Highness Nathaniel Igelugbo Omogbai also revoked the honorary chieftaincy title, Ozemevboya of Ozalla Kingdom conferred on Barr. George Ohioma, aka Armani, for openly insulting and physically assaulting the Onotare of Ozalla and Secretary to the Onotare, Ehichioya Ujuanbi in the presence of the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and the Chairman of Owan West Local Government Council, Dickson Ahonsi at the Onotare’s Palace.

“The title Ozemevboya of Ozalla Kingdom is now the exclusive reserve of the freeborn of Ozalla Kingdom, not strangers like Barr George Ohioma.

“The Onotare of Ozalla, His Royal Highness, Nathaniel Igelugbo Omogbai has banned/ostracized Mrs. Uyi Oduwa-Malaka and Barr. George Ohioma from the palace with immediate effect. This is for the information of the general public”, the palace spokesman said.