Ndigbo Blames Chief Sunday Udeh Over Banning Of Ezendigbo In Lagos State

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Udeh, who is facing trial at the Lagos High Court for issuing certificate for the installation of Obi of Lagos was alleged to have crowned numerous Ezendigbo in various Local Councils in the State, which has caused serious rift among Ndigbo in the State.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke on the recent banning of Ezendigbo in Lagos State, blamed Chief Sunday Udeh for the ugly situation.

According to Chief Stanley Eke, the banning of Ezendigbo by the Lagos State Government was caused by Chief Sunday Udeh, who allegedly commercialized the title, collecting peanuts and indiscriminately issuing certificates of Ezendigbo in bazaar style.

He gave instance with what happened in Oto Awori LCDA, where Chief Udeh balkanized Ezendigbo. Eze Peter Olikenyi was crowned Eze Udo of Otor Awori LCDA for over 20 years ago and the area was peaceful until 2025, Chief Udeh balkanized the area,crowned and issued certificates to Eze Uchenna Dike, Eze Agudo Kenneth Anayo and Eze Timothy Nwanoro as Ezendigbo. And since then, there has been no peace among Ndigbo in Oto Awori LCDA.

The same thing happened in Ojo Local Government, where Chief Sunday Udeh was alleged to have balkanized Ojo Local Government into East, West, South and Central and crowned Ezendigbo which has pitched Eze John Greg and Eze Tochukwu Anosike against themselves. The battle between Eze Anosike and Eze Greg led to the stopping of the new yam festival and all the food prepared by Eze Anosike were wasted.

For the past years, Ndigbo in Oriade LCDA, have not known peace following the crowning of two Ezendigbo by Chief Sunday Udeh namely, Eze Emmanuel Chukwuakalikamadu and Eze Umenweke Chukwukadibe. The two gladiators in the protracted battle, Eze  Chukwuakalikamadu and Eze Chukwukadibe admitted that Udeh gave both of them certificates as Ezendigbo duly signed by him and his Secretary General. Since then, peace has eluded Ndigbo in Oriade LCDA. The battle led to the temporary stopping of the new yam festival of Eze Chukwukadibe and all the food he prepared worth millions of Naira were wasted.

Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin, Eze Augustine Ojukwu had a nasty experience after he woke up one morning and discovered that Chief Udeh has crowned Eze Prosper Chukwuka as Ezendigbo in FESTAC and Amuwo Odofin LGA. With that he balkanized the peaceful area despite the fact that there was another elderly retiring Ezendigbo in the area, Eze Anthony Elui, who wanted to hand the baton to Eze Ojukwu.

The tussle for Ezeship between Eze Prosper Chukwuka and Eze Augustine Ojukwu ended following the declaration of Eze Anthony Chigbo Elui as the authentic Ezendigbo of Amuwo Odofin LGA in Lagos State.

The declaration was made despite the fact that Eze Prosper Chukwuka was issued with certificate of recognition as Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin and FESTAC town by Chief Sunday Udeh.

The declaration has made the certificate issued to Eze Chukwuka as Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin LGA null and void and of no effects concerning Ezeship in the LGA. However, Chief Udeh issued Eze Prosper Chukwuka another certificate and gave him Ezendigbo Gburugburu, which Eze Chukwuka interpreted to mean that other Ezendigbo in Diaspora are under him.

It is the same story of Issuing Ezendigbo certificates in other local councils including Ejigbo, Ifako Ijaiye, Agege,  Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah, etc. Having saturated Local Councils with numerous Ezendigbo, Chief Sunday Udeh began installing Obi Ndigbo in Lagos State, which has landed him in serious trouble. He was just released from Ikoyi correctional center after several months in detention over his alleged link with the Obi of Lagos title.

Chief Sunday Udeh was arraigned before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square alongside the ‘Obi of Lagos’, Chief Chibuike Azubuike, Chief Martins Nwaodika and Chibuzor Ani by the Lagos State Office of Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP ) over their alleged involvement in the Obi of Lagos saga.

He was said to have issued certificate of recognition to Chief Azubuike as Obi of Lagos as the president of the Igbo Speaking Community despite the fact that the community does not recognize such a title.

Since then, he has been facing trial for the charges which attract several years of imprisonment if he is found guilty before the Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.