Adultery: Queen mother chased out of palace in Delta

Several residents of the Idumuje-Ugboko Community in Aniocha North area of Delta State were pensive on Saturday following the revelations by the queen mother, Okwukwe Nwoko, that she was sent away from the palace two years ago over allegation of infidelity.

Madam Okwukwe accused the crown prince and his loyalists of framing her and sending her out of the palace so the former could achieve his desire of succeeding the 90-year old monarch.

Now she is threatening a court action to reclaim her position in the palace.

The monarch, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, married four wives but divorced two while one is dead, leaving Madam Okwukwe as the only recognised wife staying with him before the alleged adultery.

37yrs old Madam Okwukwe, in an interview with newsmen said she was unjustly accused of infidelity and sent out of the palace with seven-month-old pregnancy, which she claim belonged to the king.

She said has troubles started after a failed plan to reconcile one of the King's former wives with the palace and some persons vowed that no wife of the Obi would remain in the palace since the move failed.

The queen mother claimed that when she was accused of infidelity, she agreed to a DNA test or be allowed to take the traditional oath to prove her innocence. She said her accusers refused and drove her out despite the unproven case of infidelity.

Madam Okwukwe said  while the matter was being addressed, she was stopped from entering the palace.

According to her, she lived peacefully with the monarch before the incident. She stated that the pregnancy she was accused of getting through infidelity produced a baby who is now about three years old.

She also said the baby had neither been seen nor touched by her father since her birth.

Madam Okwukwe has appealed to the Obi-in-Council, opinion leaders and the royal family to intervene in the matter, adding that she “wants to go back to the palace and take care” of her husband.

But a member of the royal family, identified as Prince Obi Nwoko, is insisting that Madam Okwukwe  indeed committed infidelity and cannot be allowed back into the palace according to tradition.