From Ben Dunno, Warri
An Octogenarian and Lt. Col. Satchie Emmanuel Etoromi (retd), who claims to be former husband of Senator Stella Oduah, yesterday, demanded the immediate return of the corpse of his son, Maxwell Etoromi, for burial in his paternal homeland in Warri, Delta State.
Chief Etoromi, who claimed he had sent a delegation to the Igwe of Akili Ozizor, Ogbaru in Anambra State, Igwe D. O. Oduah, to prevail on Senator Oduah to release the corpse of his son, told newsmen how sad he was about Maxwell’s death and how he was treated by the former Aviation minister.
In a letter to the royal father entitled: “Appeal to intercede to ensure Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah brings my son, Maxwell Chinedu Obiechina Wereyesigha Toritseju Etoromi, to me in Warri for burial,” the bereaved father said he read about the death of their 28 years old son in the newspapers without being informed by his former wife.
Erotomi recounted how he married Senator Oduah
“Igwe Oduah 1 betrothed Stella Oduah to me on November 18, 1984 in Akili Ozizor. We got married on the December 16, 1984 in the palace in Akili Ozizor. After the payment of dowry and exchange of gifts, we were taken to Nde-Mili where we performed the final rites.
“I was surprised to see stories on the internet that my son, Maxwell Omabuwa Temisaren Obiechina Wereyesigha Toritseju Chinedu Etoromi, who Stella delivered for us on March 14, 1988 at 05.00 hours in St Mary`s Hospital Ugboroke, Warri was dead.
“Up till now, Stella has not told me my son died in her custody. There is rumour that my son will be buried in Akili Ozizor. That is not acceptable at all. My son must be brought to me in Warri for internment…”
The letter, which was copied to Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke and the Parish Priest, Father Donald Uzoh of Sacred Heart Parish, added that: “Stella should also bring back Eyituoyo Felix Kenneth Oritsetimeyin Ikechukwu Etoromi, who was delivered on August 1, 1989 at 05.30 hours in St Mary’s Hospital Ugboroke, Warri whom she took away from our home over 20 years ago.”
Chief Etoromi explained to the monarch that the stories needed not be told now, but his grief at Omabuwa`s transition was too much to bear; hence he is reacting this way.
Akili Ozizor, the quiet country home of Nigeria’s former Aviation minister and presently the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Oduah, on Monday witnessed an unusual heavy vehicular and human movements when sympathisers, friends and dignitaries from across Anambra State rallied for vigil mass for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late master Maxwell Chinedu, who died last Friday at the age of 28.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Anambra State PDP Chairman, Chief Ken Emeakayi, former Onitsha South Local Government Chairman, Chief Ejidike, the Chief of Staff, Princess Stella Oduah Foundation, Princess Nwaka Ononuju and Director of her campaign organisation, Chief Pandola Okwuosa were at the mass.
Daily Sun called Senator Oduah’s Airtel line 0812***2015 all through yesterday until 7:59 pm. It did not connect.
The operator said the line was “switched off.”
Senator Oduah did not reply to a text message sent to her at 8:17pm which intimated her of Chief Erotomi’s claims.
The text message also sought her reaction to his request that the corpse of Maxwell be taken to Delta State for burial.
Attempts to speak with a personal assistant was, also, unsuccessful.
The assistant, declined to be named but said he was “no longer working for Senator Oduah since she left as Aviation minister.
