*Open Letter to His Excellency, the Governor of Benue State, part 4.*
*Urgent Call for Accountability in the Case of Barr. Omale Omale’s Illegal Coronation and Impersonation*
Your Excellency,
The ancient adage reminds us: *“Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.”* It is with profound dismay that I bring to your attention the reckless actions of one of your appointees, Hon. Barr. Omale Omale, Commissioner for Renewable Energy, Power, and Transportation, whose recent conduct threatens the rule of law, public trust, and peace in Ugboju community, Otukpo Local Government Area.
As widely reported, Barr. Omale brazenly participated in an illegal coronation ceremony on 24th/03/2025, hosted by Chief Solomon Apochi, a man expressly restrained by the *Supreme Court of Nigeria* from parading himself as Chief of Ugboju. Despite clear warnings from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (via letter BLGCA/S/N/73/V.III/76 dated 06/03/2025), and the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Barr. Omale chose to flout the law. He not only attended this sham coronation but also fraudulently claimed the illegal title of “Akanaba,” directly contravening a court *Notice of impersonation, contempt of court and warning to shelve the planned 2025 annual Ugboju Eja’lekwu cultural festival* dated 20/03/2025* that explicitly prohibited such events.
This act is not merely a personal indiscretion—it is a flagrant disrespect for the judiciary, an affront to your administration’s commitment to accountability, and a dangerous precedent that risks inflaming communal tensions. Ugboju community is already grappling with escalating security concerns, and such reckless behavior by a high-ranking official threatens to destabilize the fragile peace.
Your Excellency, as the chief custodian of law and order in our state, we urge you to:
1. *Publicly reaffirm your administration’s zero-tolerance policy* for contempt of court, impersonation, and abuse of office.
2. *Direct security agencies to enforce the Supreme Court’s injunction* against Chief Solomon Apochi and prevent further illegal ceremonies.
3. *Engage community leaders* in Ugboju to de-escalate tensions and uphold the sanctity of lawful chieftaincy processes.
A government appointee who disregards the law for personal aggrandizement undermines the very foundation of justice your administration seeks to uphold. We trust you will act swiftly to demonstrate that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law.
Respectfully submitted,
*Arc. Abonu Ochoechi*
MD. Citylife Homes Limited
*CC:*
– Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)
– Director, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs
– Chairman, Otukpo Local Government
– Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command