Following reports of the crown of Warri kingdom going missing, the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 5, Benin, has declared two sons of the immediate past
Following reports of the crown of Warri kingdom going missing, the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 5, Benin, has declared two sons of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko, wanted.
The two princes, Prince Onyowoli Emiko and Prince Omatsuli Emiko, were declared wanted on the allegation that they broke into the private apartment of the Olu of Warri, where they allegedly stole the ancient crown.
Prince Oyowoli Emiko, in the information declaring him wanted, is said to be wanted “for the offence of breaking into the secret apartment of the HRM Olu of Warri and stealing the Royal Crown”. He is said to be “a student, Itsekiri by tribe, Aged 30 years, 5.2ft of height”, among other physical identikits.
Similarly, his younger brother, 27-year old Oamtsuli Emiko, 5.6ft in height and also a student, is wanted for the same offence of breaking and stealing.
The police also interrogated the suspended traditional Prime Minister of the Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, over the alleged invasion of the palace of the Olu of Warri.
It would be recalled that following the transition of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, in December 2020, the palace was reportedly invaded and the 400-year-old crown and symbol of the Itsekiri monarchy was declared missing.
Emami, however, said that he knew nothing about the invasion of the palace.
“I was invited based on the incident in Warri and it happens to be the invasion of the Olu’s palace. I told them I knew nothing about that because I was not in town when that incident happened.
“It is about that laid-down procedure, which is one of the reasons I am here and I have told the police. The police have questioned me on that issue, what led to the invasion; I have answered that and other issues I can’t divulge,” he said.
Coronation will hold despite missing crown
An Uncle to the Olu of Warri-Designate, Prince Yemi Emiko has allayed fears over the coronation of Prince Tsola Emiko on Saturday following the widely reported missing crown.
Emiko, who is chairman of the coronation media and publicity committee, said the missing crown will not stop the exercise.
“We have several crowns in the palace, including the original beaded crowns which Ginuwa I came from Benin with, and which we used to crown our kings up until 1625 when Atuwatse I came from Portugal with the diamond-studded silver crowns. We also have a golden crown, and so on. The kingmakers will decide which of these several crowns to use for the forthcoming coronation,” Emiko said.
