In Edo State, two honorary chieftaincy titles have been stripped due to misconduct. The actions took place under the authority of His Royal Highness Nathaniel Omogbai, Okpamen the IX, the Onotare of Ozalla Kingdom, who has a respected and long-standing tenure as a traditional ruler.
The first individual involved, Uyi Oduwa-Malaka, the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Diaspora Affairs, previously held the title of Uzoyare of Ozalla Kingdom. Her title was revoked following an incident on April 12, 2024, when she reportedly asked the Onotare to meet her in her car upon arriving at the palace—a request seen as a severe breach of protocol and respect.
This act was perceived as a direct affront to the traditional and ceremonial standards upheld by the kingdom.
Further exacerbating the situation, during the Ivbamen festival held on April 13, 2024, Commissioner Oduwa-Malaka was accused of not showing due respect to the Onotare in the presence of key regional officials including the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, and the Chairman of Owan West Local Government, Mr. Dickson Ahonsi.
Allegations were also made that she boasted about her ability to remove the traditional ruler from his position.
In a related case, George Ohioma, also known as Armani, was stripped of the honorary chieftaincy title, Ozemevboya of Ozalla Kingdom, which he had received from the Onotare. His revocation followed reported behaviors including open insults and a physical assault against the Onotare and his secretary, Mr. Ehichioya Ujuanbi, again witnessed by prominent local government figures during the same festival.
Following these events, the palace spokesman, Dr. Osumah Obaze, issued a statement in Benin City detailing the incidents and the Onotare’s subsequent decisions. Dr. Obaze emphasized that the revocations were meant to serve as a deterrent against any actions that might desecrate the respected throne.
Furthermore, the statement clarified that the title of Ozemevboya would henceforth be reserved exclusively for Ozalla freeborns, thereby retracting any honorary status previously extended to non-indigenes like George Ohioma.
Both individuals involved, Uyi Oduwa-Malaka and George Ohioma, have been banned and ostracized from the palace with immediate effect, marking a significant rupture in their relationship with the traditional authorities of Ozalla Kingdom. The public statement concluded by reinforcing that these measures were public knowledge intended to uphold the dignity and tradition of the Ozalla Kingdom.
The statement read: “Her legion of offences, among others, include openly insulting the Onotare and for not paying obeisance to the Onotare of Ozalla on April 13, 2024, during Ivbamen festival in the presence of the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku and Chairman, Owan West Local Government of the state, Mr. Dickson Ahonsi and for openly boasting to remove the traditional ruler from office.
“In the same vein, the Onotare of Ozalla, His Royal Highest Nathaniel Omogbai also revoked the honorary chieftaincy title, Ozemevboya of Ozalla Kingdom, conferred on George Ohioma aka Armani for openly insulting and physically assaulting the Onotare of Ozalla and Secretary to the Onotare, Mr. Ehichioya Ujuanbi in the presence of the Speaker to Edo State House of Assembly, Agbebaku and the Chairman of Owan West council, Mr. 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 George Ohioma. The Onotare of Ozalla, His Royal Highest Omogbai has banned/ostracized Mrs. Uyi Oduwa-Malaka and George Ohioma from the palace with immediate effect. This is for the information of the general public.”
