The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, King Prof. Leslie Eke, has warned members of the public against purchasing land or engaging in any land transaction with Chief Emeka Ihunwo over disputed parcels of land in the Agbalaja area of Woji community, Rivers State.
The monarch accused Ihunwo, a former palace secretary to his late father, of allegedly selling community lands without authorisation for the past 13 years, insisting that he has no traditional or legal authority to transact in Woji ancestral lands.
King Eke, who is also known as Nyerisi Eli Woji (Eze Woji XII) and Eze Gbakagbaka, made the allegations while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on 3 November, saying he had taken steps to stop what he described as the continued encroachment and illegal sale of community lands.
He maintained that Ihunwo was neither a member of the Woji royal family nor entitled to occupy the traditional stool of the community, arguing that his former position as palace secretary did not confer on him the authority of a traditional ruler or custodian of Woji lands.
According to him, Ihunwo had recently continued selling portions of the disputed Agbalaja land despite the monarch’s objections.
“The palace secretary does not become anything but the palace secretary, and perhaps may be awarded a chieftaincy title for a job well done. But that is it. He cannot suddenly become the custodian of Woji lands,” the monarch said.
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King Eke further alleged that Ihunwo was parading himself as a monarch while pursuing a court case seeking recognition for a traditional position, stressing that no court had granted such recognition.
He said the disputed land was particularly important to the Woji people, describing it as one of the remaining large portions of ancestral land available to the community.
The monarch also alleged that Ihunwo had sold several portions of land to individuals over the years, adding that some buyers were only recently becoming aware of the dispute.
He urged prospective buyers, developers and other members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from entering into land transactions with anyone claiming authority to sell the disputed property until the issues were resolved.
Explaining the history of the dispute, King Eke said an earlier disagreement involving a burial ground belonging to the Opujageoma people had resulted in litigation. He, however, disputed the interpretation of the court proceedings, insisting that the judgment did not confer on Ihunwo the authority to sell Woji community lands.
The traditional ruler commended the Rivers State Commissioner of Police for his intervention, which he said had helped maintain peace in the area.
He appealed to residents, indigenes and non-indigenes to remain peaceful and law-abiding while allowing the judiciary to determine matters before it.
King Eke said he had previously tolerated the situation in the interest of peace but could no longer remain silent over what he described as the threat to the community’s ancestral heritage.
He also cautioned youths against seeking quick wealth through the sale of communal lands, urging them to prioritise education, skills acquisition and personal development.
The monarch reiterated his commitment to protecting Woji’s ancestral lands, insisting that his intervention was aimed at safeguarding the community’s heritage rather than pursuing personal interests.
He said members of the public could visit the disputed area to ascertain the extent of the alleged land sales.
Meanwhile, Chief Emeka Ihunwo had, on November 2, 2026, raised concerns over the alleged encroachment on the disputed Agbalaja land, accusing Eze Leslie Eke of continuing bulldozing activities on portions of the property despite ongoing litigation.
The Chief made the allegation while briefing journalists.
