Double Trouble For The Dead: 16 Months After Death, Abia Widower Still Can’t Bury Wife

UMUAHIA — For more than 16 months, Mr Elijah Ndubuisi Amah has lived with a pain that refuses to go away. His wife, Mrs Nkechi Florence Elijah, died on April 9, 2025, at the age of 32. But while death ordinarily marks the beginning of mourning and burial, for Amah, it has become a prolonged battle to give his wife what he describes as her final dignity — a resting place.

The remains of Nkechi have remained in a mortuary since her death, with the husband, a former councillor and indigene of Umuzomgbo, Ihechiowa, in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, appealing to the state government and other authorities to intervene.

“I only want to bury my wife,” Amah said, expressing frustration over months of moving between authorities, courts, police stations and community leaders in search of a resolution.

According to him, efforts to bury his wife have been frustrated by a dispute involving the traditional leadership of his community.

Amah alleged that the Traditional Ruler of Umuzomgbo ancient kingdom, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mba, is behind the opposition to his efforts to bury Nkechi. He said the monarch accused him of having a hand in her death.

The 54-year-old petty trader denied any involvement in his wife’s death, saying neither her family nor anyone else in the community had accused him. He added that his in-laws had submitted statements, including an affidavit, to the police supporting the release of her remains for burial.

A burial that never happened

Amah said he eventually fixed April 26, 2026, for the burial after making the necessary arrangements. But the burial did not take place. He alleged that he was re-arrested on the day of the scheduled burial, following an earlier detention that lasted about three months.

He alleged that he was first arrested on April 11, 2025, two days after his wife’s death, and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, where he remained until May 16, 2025, when he was granted bail with the intervention of his in-laws.

He further alleged that he was arrested again on September 2, 2025, at the instance of the traditional ruler and remained in detention until December 17, 2025, when he regained his freedom following a court order.

‘I am being persecuted for demanding accountability’

Amah claimed that the dispute was rooted partly in his involvement in calls for greater transparency in community affairs.

He alleged that he and some youths questioned aspects of community administration, including the conduct of the annual New Yam Festival and the management of revenue from two telecommunications masts located on community land.

According to him, he wrote to the community leadership seeking that the festival be celebrated according to tradition and requesting an account of revenue from the masts. Amah alleged that Eze Nto Mba told members that about ₦12 million had been received from the telecommunications companies over 17 years.

He further alleged that the monarch said he had personally spent about ₦8 million grading community farm roads and that the community owed him that amount.

Amah said he subsequently became a target of persecution for allegedly leading demands for accountability. He also claimed that some youths who supported the demand were intimidated into submission.

He alleged that the community’s Ezego (Chief) and President-General, whom he said supported his request to bury his wife, were removed from office by the paramount ruler.

“ I only want to bury my wife and allow her to rest,” he sobbed.

Amah appealed to Governor Alex Otti, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to intervene.

Insisting that his wife died of natural causes, Amah said he was not opposed to an investigation to establish the cause of death. He said she was hypertensive and had no bruises suggesting violence, adding that they had lived peacefully.

Monarch denies persecution

Eze Linus Nto Mba disputed Amah’s account, accusing him of attempting to damage his reputation with fabricated allegations.

The monarch said the community raised concerns over the circumstances of Nkechi’s death and accused Amah of involvement, prompting calls for him to report to the police. He said Amah was subsequently picked up for investigation.

According to Eze Mba, the police indicated that an autopsy would be conducted to establish the cause of death. He claimed funds had already been provided for the procedure and that Amah was invited to participate but did not appear.

He maintained that the matter was before the Commissioner of Police and the SCID, adding that the burial had been kept pending until the cause of death was determined.