Arrest Of Patrick Izu Osammor, Augustine Nwafor Ashi Deepens Investigations Into Ogwashi-uku Crisis

The unfolding security situation in Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom took a decisive turn in October 2025 with the arrest of Patrick Izu Osammor and Augustine Nwafor Ashi, two individuals alleged to be at the centre of a coordinated campaign to destabilise the ancient kingdom and provoke communal unrest.

Their arrest, carried out by operatives acting on the directives of the Inspector General of Police, followed months of intelligence-gathering and extensive documentation of activities said to constitute grave threats to public peace and the traditional institution.

Both men are now defendants in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/594/2025, where they stand accused of several serious offences said to have been committed this year. They have been incarcerated at the Federal Prison Keffi, Nassarawa State since their arrest. Their arraignment before the Federal High Court is scheduled for December 2025, marking the commencement of what investigators believe will be a pivotal trial that exposes the wider network behind the ongoing unrest.

A Campaign of Calumny and the Push to Destabilise Ogwashi-Uku
According to the case file, Osammor and Ashi allegedly orchestrated an elaborate campaign of calumny targeted at inciting discord within Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom. Police investigators have traced multiple coordinated activities—including misinformation campaigns, incitement of community groups, and mobilisation of factions—designed to provoke communal crisis and undermine the peace of the kingdom.

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Sources within the security apparatus revealed that the activities of the duo were not isolated acts of mischief but part of a broader plot tied to a long-running dispute over the Obiship of the kingdom. These individuals are said to be staunch supporters of the Umu Obi Dieyi family, which lost its claim to the throne at the Delta State High Court, the Court of Appeal in Benin, and finally the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Rather than accept the rulings of all the courts, investigators say the group has, through proxies and sympathisers within the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), continued to instigate violence, disruptions, and disinformation aimed at delegitimising the lawful traditional authority.

Fresh Investigation Links Suspects to Earlier Attempt on the Obi’s Life
In a significant development, discreet sources within the Force Headquarters in Abuja confirmed that approval has been granted for an expansion of the investigation. This new phase will examine the renewed threats against the life of His Royal Majesty, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.
This expansion was triggered by emerging intelligence suggesting that some individuals presently being investigated have active or historical ties to those already facing trial for the violent attack on the Obi at his Palace in October 2023. That attack involved the use of firearms, the shooting of security personnel, and a coordinated attempt to invade and destabilise the seat of the traditional authority. Police believe that recent activities may be a continuation—or escalation—of that earlier plot.

Attempts to Evade Justice Through Abuse of Court Processes
Investigators have also confirmed that certain suspects linked to the October 2025 offences have attempted to evade lawful arrest by seeking injunctive reliefs from a High Court judge recently transferred from Ogwashi-Uku to the Akukwu-Igbo Division. These efforts reportedly involve the filing of Fundamental Rights Enforcement applications seeking orders to restrain the police from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting them.

However, senior police sources in the Legal Directorate of the Police Headquarters were unequivocal: no High Court judge in Nigeria has the lawful authority to stop the police from carrying out a criminal investigation. According to them, such attempts are a blatant abuse of judicial process and contradict longstanding Supreme Courtorry pronouncements.

Citing multiple judicial authorities, police officials reiterated that:
• The Police have constitutional and statutory powers to investigate all allegations of crime
(Section 4, Police Act 2020; Section 214, 1999 Constitution).

The Supreme Court has repeatedly warned that courts must never use injunctions to shield suspects from investigation.
• In Fawehinmi v. Commissioner of Police (2002), the Supreme Court held that
“the police have unfettered powers to investigate all allegations of crime, and courts must not interfere.”
• The use of fundamental rights applications to block, delay, or frustrate criminal investigations is a misuse of the judicial process and cannot stand.
Investigators insist that the police will proceed with the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all individuals implicated in the matter, regardless of any procedural manoeuvres aimed at obstructing justice.

A Kingdom Seeking Peace and Accountability
The looming trial of Osammor and Ashi is expected to shed further light on the intricate networks and motivations behind the lingering attempts to destabilise Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom. As the December arraignment approaches, the community awaits a judicial process that many hope will help restore lasting peace and expose the orchestration of communal unrest by those unable to accept lawful outcomes of Nigeria’s judicial system.

Security sources assure that the police remain committed to protecting the lives of citizens, safeguarding the traditional institution, and ensuring that no individual or group is above the law.