Traditional Ruler Demands ₦50 Million After Corpse Dumped In Akwa Ibom Palace
Palace Incident Sparks Legal Dispute
A traditional ruler in Akwa Ibom State has demanded ₦50 million in damages after a corpse was allegedly dumped in his palace amid a family dispute over burial arrangements.
The monarch, Eteidung Gordon Etukeren, village head of Ikot Obong in Ikpa Ibekwe clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, said the act has subjected him and his family to severe emotional distress and health concerns.
He alleged that aggrieved members of another family brought the remains of Stephen Isaac Iboro to his palace in a coffin and abandoned it there without his consent.
Roots of the Conflict
The controversy stems from a disagreement between the Etukeren and Udobong families over where the deceased should be buried.
Etukeren said the Udobong family had insisted that Iboro be buried on land belonging to his family, a demand he rejected on the grounds that the deceased was not related to them.
According to the monarch, the late Iboro originally came from Otong Udobong but was once accommodated by the Etukeren family after facing difficulties with his relatives.
He said the deceased was allowed to live in a house belonging to the family until he secured employment at the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria and later built his own residence.
Court Intervention
As tensions escalated, the monarch said he sought legal protection through the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Ikot Abasi Division.
The court reportedly granted an injunction restraining the Udobong family from burying the deceased on Etukeren family land in suit No. HAB/MISC.4/2026.
Etukeren said the order was served on Friday, just a day before the controversial incident.
Fearing possible confrontation, he said he also contacted the local police for assistance in enforcing the court order.
Corpse Allegedly Abandoned
Despite the injunction, the monarch alleged that members of the Udobong family carried the coffin to his palace on Saturday and abandoned it there.
The situation, he said, has left his household dealing with the stench from the corpse as well as emotional and psychological distress.
“This act has caused serious trauma and health concerns for my family,” he said.
Demand for Compensation
Etukeren is now demanding ₦50 million as compensation for the damages he said were caused by the incident.
He also revealed that the deceased’s relatives had allegedly sold his house for about ₦25 million after his death while still insisting that he be buried on Etukeren family land.
The monarch maintained that he would continue to pursue legal remedies to protect his family’s property and ensure respect for the court’s ruling.
