Okonjo-Iweala’s Brother Convicted Of Theft In U.S.

 

 

Okonjo-Iweala’s Brother Convicted Of Theft In U.S. Accused Of Using Police To Jail Critics Over Land Disputes
Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu Kingdom in Delta State, Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo

The allegations come amid growing controversy surrounding the arrest and remand of Wong Box by the Federal High Court in Asaba over alleged cyberstalking and defamation involving the monarch.

Fresh allegations have emerged against the Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu Kingdom in Delta State, Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo, brother of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over alleged land-grabbing, abuse of police powers, and intimidation of critics in the community.

The monarch is also facing criticism following the detention and prosecution of activist Victor Ojei, popularly known as Wong Box, over alleged cyberstalking and defamation linked to comments concerning the traditional ruler.

A source familiar with developments in the community accused the monarch of using political influence and security agencies to silence perceived opponents and facilitate controversial land transactions.

“If you go to Ogwashi-Uku prison, this is how he jails innocent people from his community who don’t want him to sell their community lands,” the community source said.

“He sold some land to top politicians like the Deputy Governor, so he uses those influences to oppress anybody who talks. Okonjo-Iweala’s brother is just jailing people using the police.”

The allegations come amid growing controversy surrounding the arrest and remand of Wong Box by the Federal High Court in Asaba over alleged cyberstalking and defamation involving the monarch.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Justice F. A. Olubanjo ordered the remand of the activist after security agencies arraigned him on charges linked to social media publications allegedly considered offensive to the traditional ruler.

Justice Olubanjo ordered Ojei’s remand after he was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on alleged criminal defamation and cyberbullying.

https://saharareporters.com/2026/05/13/court-remands-delta-activist-wong-box-over-alleged-cyberstalking-defamation-ogwashi-uku

According to the charge marked FHC/ASB/32c/2026, the activist was accused of making Facebook publications in March 2026 through an account identified as “Wong Box Nigeria,” alleging that the traditional ruler unlawfully sold land earmarked for youth agricultural empowerment to Chinese nationals.

The prosecution alleged that the publication portrayed the monarch as a “land grabber” and triggered several derogatory comments against him online.

The charge with No: FHC/ASB/32c/2026 states that Comrade Ojei, sometime in March 2026, within the Asaba Judicial Division, allegedly made a publication on his Facebook account (Wong Box Nigeria) claiming that Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, illegally sold land to a Chinese company.

The publication alleged that the land in question had been allocated for youth empowerment under the Aniocha South Local Government Area Agricultural Empowerment Programme by the Delta State Government. It further claimed that farmers were subjected to harassment, destruction of crops, theft of farm assets, and forced eviction.

According to the charge, the post also portrayed the monarch as a land grabber, attracting widespread reactions and comments, including derogatory remarks.

However, the charge states that the land had already been acquired by G7 Properties and Investment Ltd, with a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Delta State Government. It further alleges that the publication was intended to damage the reputation of the monarch.

The charge says the alleged act is contrary to section 24(2)(c) and punishable under section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, etc.) Act, 2024.

The prosecution maintained that the publication was intended to damage the monarch’s reputation and therefore constituted an offence contrary to Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same law.

However, Ojei pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him on May 12, 2026.

But the court declined to grant him bail immediately, noting that the motion for bail filed by his legal team was not yet ripe for hearing.

Justice Olubanjo subsequently adjourned the matter till May 25, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while ordering that the activist be remanded in custody pending the determination of the application.

The monarch has faced numerous allegations of land grabbing, particularly reported by SaharaReporters, involving the destruction of farms and forced annexation of lands in surrounding communities.

These allegations have led to intense, ongoing disputes with residents of nearby communities like Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Uku, and Agiadiase.

In late 2024, a Delta State Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the land disputes.

The palace claimed that the commission cleared the monarch of some allegations based on evidence of legal ownership, though accusations continued into 2025.

A petition by TAEUN Ambassadors for Change in October 2024 alleged that one Francis Ekene Ugbah was kidnapped and disappeared, alleging that the monarch and his brother, Prince Onyema Okonjo, were involved in violent land-grabbing activities.

In August 2025, SaharaReporters reported how a female farmer in Agiadiase community accused the monarch and his men of using bulldozers to destroy her farm, palm trees, and irrigation facilities, alleging a total loss of millions of naira.

Similarly, residents of Ubulu-Okiti and Ubulu-Uku have accused the monarch of using fraudulent “consent judgments”, resulting from arranged lawsuits, to claim ownership of land belonging to their communities.

SaharaReporters also reported that due to increasing tensions, the Delta State security council reportedly asked the monarch to abstain from land matters pending an investigation.

Meanwhile, in November 2024, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that Ifechukwude, who emerged as the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku in September 2019, was convicted and jailed for theft in the U.S.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that court documents it obtained showed that the monarch was convicted of theft in April 1997 at the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, State of Maryland, in the U.S.

The court documents reportedly showed that his younger brother, Onyema Okonjo, was also convicted of a similar offence on January 23, 1998.

He was reportedly first criminally indicted on April 20, 1995 and summoned to appear before a judge the following day.

After initially making his first appearance on July 14, 1995, he failed to show up at the court on August 12, of the same year.

He was initially charged with theft and conspiracy to commit the crime with his younger brother, Onyema.

Specifically, the first count charge indicated that he stole “assorted computers and computer peripheral equipment, the property of Digital Equipment Corporation, having a value of $300 or greater” between January 23, 1995 and March 24, 1995 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

According to the court document, the offence violated Article 27, Section 342 of the Annotated Code of Maryland and was against the peace, government, and dignity of the U.S state.

He was released on bail on “personal recognizance” after paying a $2,500 bail bond.