Eze Ndigbo Title Ban: CRIDTTL Cautions Against Alleged Use Of Proscribed Titles In Diaspora

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The Committee on the Regularization of Igbo Diaspora Traditional Title and Leadership, CRIDTTL, has issued a formal caution over the alleged continued use of titles proscribed for Igbo leadership outside the South-East region.

The committee, which was established by the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, SECTR, said its attention was drawn to instances where titles including Eze, Eze Ndigbo and Eze Igbo were allegedly still being used and conferred in the diaspora, despite the new position of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

In a statement made available to PM Express on Thursday, CRIDTTL said the practice is contrary to the new constitutional position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the resolution adopted by the South-East traditional institution.

According to the committee, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide constitution now provides that the use and conferment of royal titles such as Eze, Eze Ndigbo, Eze Igbo and other related monarchical designations outside Igboland is proscribed and will no longer be recognised.

The position was publicly restated on April 9, 2026, when the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, announced that the organisation had adopted the resolution of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers on the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported at the time that Ohanaeze stated that such titles outside Igboland would not be recognised and that sanctions would be considered for defaulters where necessary.

CRIDTTL said the development is a direct challenge to the emerging institutional framework for Igbo leadership outside Igboland, adding that the prohibition is not an informal directive but part of the constitutional framework of the worldwide body.

The committee stated that the Onyendu Ndigbo framework is now the recognised model for Igbo cultural representation outside Igboland.

It explained that under the framework, recognised leaders are expected to serve as cultural representatives, community coordinators and custodians of Igbo values, rather than as territorial traditional rulers or monarchs exercising authority in host communities.

The committee noted that the new arrangement is designed to preserve Igbo identity and cultural values while ensuring that diaspora leadership remains compatible with the laws, customs and traditional institutions of host communities where Ndigbo reside as guests.

On implementation, CRIDTTL said the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers has already commenced induction exercises under the new framework.

It said 33 persons were inducted in May 2026 and an additional 44 persons were inducted in July 2026, bringing the total number inducted under the new framework to 77. The committee added that the July exercise included persons from diaspora locations outside Nigeria, demonstrating the international scope of the Onyendu Ndigbo framework.

The committee further alleged that Chief Leonard Okafor, popularly known as Oba Ojoto, was found to have continued with the use, conferment and recognition of the proscribed nomenclatures, despite the new directive.

CRIDTTL listed activities it wants discontinued to include the conferment or recognition of the proscribed titles, public presentation of individuals under such titles, organisation of ceremonies for conferment of such titles, issuance of certificates purporting to establish such traditional authority, and promotion of any leadership structure outside the approved Onyendu Ndigbo framework.

The committee said the directive should not be interpreted as an attempt to suppress Igbo culture or traditional values, but as a measure to ensure order and credibility.

It warned that any further alleged violations would be documented and could be referred to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and other relevant authorities for appropriate action.

CRIDTTL called on Igbo organisations, community leaders and stakeholders across Nigeria and in the diaspora to comply with the new framework and to avoid activities capable of creating confusion or parallel traditional authority structures.

The committee reaffirmed that its mandate remains focused on bringing order, dignity and responsible leadership to Igbo traditional and cultural representation across the diaspora, with screening, vetting, induction and documentation undertaken under the supervision of the relevant traditional institution.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a reaction from Chief Leonard Okafor over the allegations were ongoing.