The emergence of a surprise claimant to the royal throne of the Ossomalla community in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State has unsettled residents and stirred intense controversy across the region, reports ITREALMS.
The community’s recognized traditional ruler, His Royal Highness (HRH) Igwe Victor Awogu, alongside his cabinet chiefs and stakeholders of the agrarian, riverine town on the banks of the River Niger, has strongly questioned how one Patrick Ugboma, popularly known as Sule, came to proclaim himself king over the people.
During the recent Easter holidays, Ugboma; a politician, oil and gas executive, and philanthropist—reportedly assembled a group of young men, conferred chieftaincy titles upon them, and heavily publicized the event in the media, where he was explicitly described as the traditional ruler of Ossomalla. Local reports further indicate that he has been parading himself within the community and neighboring towns as its legitimate monarch.
Disturbed by the development, HRH Igwe Awogu and his traditional cabinet have issued a formal disclaimer, urging the general public to completely disregard Ugboma’s royal claims. The community leadership condemned the move as an unlawful act and called on the Anambra State Government and relevant law enforcement agencies to intervene before the situation escalates.
In a formal press statement dated April 8, 2026, HRH Igwe Awogu declared:
“My attention has been drawn to a false report by an impostor claiming to be the Traditional Ruler of Ossomalla in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. For the avoidance of doubt, I, Victor Chukwuemeka Awogu, remain the duly recognized Traditional Ruler of Ossomalla and Chairman, Committee on Communications and Public Relations of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.”
The brewing controversy gained traction following a social media report attributed to an Enugu-based writer, Kelvin Okpala of the New Nigerian Newspaper, which referred to Ugboma as the town's monarch and highlighted his recent conferment of chieftaincy titles.
In that publication, Ugboma was quoted as emphasizing the importance of honoring deserving members of the community, arguing that such recognition serves to preserve traditional practices, customs, and core communal values.
However, the publication sparked immediate and widespread backlash online. Many respondents and indigenes openly urged the writer to verify his claims, pointing out that Igwe Awogu remains the sole certified and legitimate traditional ruler of Ossomalla.
Further findings indicate that Ugboma is a wealthy and influential political figure within Ogbaru LGA, where he already holds the prestigious title of Ide Ogbahu.
Reacting to the situation, HRH Igwe Awogu; himself a veteran journalist and prominent member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, stated that he has no objection to Ugboma’s philanthropy or political endeavors, but strongly condemned what he described as a blatant impersonation and the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods.
“Such actions send the wrong signal to the wider world,” Igwe Awogu stated. “One must also question the underlying intention behind this. It must be stopped immediately.”
Legal observers note that Ugboma’s actions may directly contravene the provisions of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State. Specifically, Sections 18 through 21 of the law prescribe strict penalties, including fines and terms of imprisonment, for any unlawful claims to traditional authority.
Under Anambra State law, self-proclamation as a monarch is explicitly prohibited. It is a criminal offense for any person to present themselves as a traditional ruler, assume such a title, or parade themselves as a monarch without undergoing the rigorous customary due process and securing official state government recognition and staff of office.
Sections 18–21 collectively establish that a traditional ruler’s authority flows from both custom and state recognition; no individual can crown themselves king outside this legal and customary framework. Violators face immediate legal sanctions and criminal prosecution.
Meanwhile, multiple efforts to reach Ugboma to clear the air on the development were rebuffed. Direct telephone calls made to his mobile line were repeatedly declined, followed by an automated SMS reply stating: "Please stop calling Chief Patrick Ugboma."
Following this, comprehensive SMS and WhatsApp messages were sent to him explaining the journalistic necessity of balancing the report with his side of the story. One of the introductory messages read:
"Good evening Chief. Ide Ogbahu, please I am a journalist and Editor-in-Chief. I am reaching out because I have a report on my desk regarding Ossomalla that requires your comment. Please, can you spare a minute of your time, or should I send the questions via WhatsApp?"
The message received no response. A day later, a short, four-point questionnaire was formally sent to him via WhatsApp, stating:
The Questions:
Are you the traditional ruler of Ossomalla in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State?
When were you so crowned?
By whom?
Did you confer chieftaincy titles on some Ossomalla individuals during the last (2026) Easter Holiday?
Despite being informed that the publication deadline was imminent, Chief Ugboma did not respond. Editorial leadership delayed the publication by 24 hours to give him ample time to comment, but no statement was forthcoming as of the time of going to press.
PR/Editor
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