Rights Activist Leo Igwe Raises Alarm Over ‘Trial by Ordeal’ at Delta Palace, Urges Obi to Halt Process

Dr. Leo Igwe, Nigerian humanist and Director of Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW), has called for urgent intervention to stop what he described as an imminent “trial by ordeal” of an accused man at a traditional ruler’s palace in Delta State.

“We have an emergency case in Delta. An accused man is at the palace of the Obi about to be taken to a place where he will be subjected to trial by ordeal…help us impress on the Obi to stop the process,” Dr. Igwe wrote on his official handle.

Igwe disclosed that he contacted the police but was told “a petition has to be filed before they can intervene.”

Trial by ordeal—where an accused person is subjected to dangerous or painful tests to determine guilt—is prohibited under Nigerian law. The 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to fair hearing and presumption of innocence. The Evidence Act in turn rejects such practices as proof of guilt. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, also criminalizes harmful traditional practices.

Dr. Igwe’s organisation, AFAW, has documented multiple cases across Nigeria where individuals accused of witchcraft or other practices face banishment, assault, or lethal ordeals in community settings. He has repeatedly called on traditional rulers and law enforcement to uphold constitutional rights over customary sanctions.

The post did not disclose the identity of the Obi, the specific community in Delta, and the nature of the allegation accusation.

As of press time, the Delta State Police Command has not issued a statement on the incident. Traditional institutions in Nigeria retain influence in dispute resolution, but their actions remain subject to national laws.

Human rights groups have urged the Delta State Government through the Ministry of Justice to intervene swiftly to prevent harm and ensure the accused is handed over to police for lawful investigation.