A’Ibom Monarch Demands N50m Damages Over Corpse Dumped in Palace

The village head of Ikot Obong in Ikpa Ibekwe clan, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Eteidung Gordon Etukeren, has demanded N50 million in damages after a corpse was allegedly dumped in his palace by aggrieved individuals.

The monarch said the action exposed him and members of his family to psychological trauma and possible health risks due to the foul stench emanating from the body.

The incident, which occurred last Saturday, was reportedly the climax of a dispute between the Etukeren and Udobong families over the burial location of the deceased, identified as Late Stephen Iboro, a former employee of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

According to Etukeren, some individuals brought the corpse in a coffin to his palace on March 7 and left it there without his consent.

He explained that the conflict began when members of the Udobong family insisted that the deceased be buried on the Etukeren family land, a request he rejected on the grounds that the late Iboro was not a member of his family.

The monarch stated that he had earlier obtained an injunction from the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Ikot Abasi Division, in suit No. HAB/MISC.4/2026, restraining the Udobong family from burying the deceased on the Etukeren family land.

Speaking on the matter, Etukeren said the deceased originally hailed from Otong Udobong in Ikot Obong village and had previously been accommodated by the Etukeren family after he was allegedly rejected by his relatives.

He said the family later advised the deceased to acquire his own property after securing employment with ALSCON. According to him, Iboro eventually built a house but later encountered disputes over the ownership of the land he purchased.

The monarch further alleged that after the man’s death, his relatives sold his house for about N25 million and still insisted on burying him on Etukeren family land.

Etukeren also revealed that the matter was previously reported to the police, with the Udobong family accusing him of causing trouble for rejecting the burial request.

However, he said the police later stepped back after discovering the details of the dispute.

The monarch added that despite the court injunction served on the Udobong family on Friday, they allegedly went ahead the next day to bring the corpse to his palace.

He said the act forced him to seek damages, insisting that the incident had caused significant distress to him and his household.