Exposed! Why Enugu Commissioner, Ogbodo, set Obeagu-Ugwuaji on Town Union crisis

The present crisis rocking the Obeagu-Ugwuaji autonomous community in Enugu south local government area has been traced to corrupt practices that was endemic in the community before Mr. Freedom Chukwunomso took over as the President General of the community.

A caretaker committee was recently foisted on the community by the commissioner for local government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo.

Ogbodo's action was carried out despite a valid court injunction which restrsined the ministry from setting up a caretaker committee, but indefiance, Ogbodo committed contempt of the court, a matter that has exposed the wrath of corruption and land racketeering in the community.

Commissioner Ogbodo in response to the contempt allegation against him said that his action was taken pursuant to Section 26 of the Funds for Rural Development Law, Cap. 81, Laws of Enugu State 2004, which empowered the Commissioner to dissolve any Town Union that is deemed a threat to peace, development, or unity within the community.

Ogbodo however failed to mentioned any action or inaction of Obeagu-Ugwuaji Development Union that was deemed a threat to peace, development or unity, but stated that the ministry could invoke any section without cause of action to install a caretaker committee to achieve a purpose.

Reacting to Ogbodo's defence that he acted based on the powers invested in the Ministry, Freedom explained that when he assumed office in the year 2021, he demanded for the comprehensive account details of the community to enable him ascertain assets and liabilities.

Freedom noted that prior to that era, the community administration was in sole control of the traditional ruler of the community, HRH, Igwe Christopher Nyia. 

According to him, the handover book was indicating that over 400 million naira was allegedly misappropriated, the traditional ruler claimed that those funds were used to settle government officials, senior security officials and lawyers at a certain crisis point or other.

He pointed out that the second thing that broke the camel's back was another unaccounted sale of over 800 plots of land which the traditional ruler also claimed that it was shared to commissioner, police, and other top government functionaries.

"These irreconcilable gaps necessitated the community to set up an audit committee to reconcile and make recommendations on the fund management of Obeagu Ugwuaji over the huge financial leakage which the committee has presented it's preliminary report and the final report is being awaited," he pointed out.

The desperate move to change the town union according to the PG was an act of corruption fighting back all those individuals, organisation, alleged government officials that benefitted from the largesse are fighting tooth and nail.

All efforts to get the reaction of the traditional ruler of Obeagu Ugwuaji Community, Igwe Christopher Nyia was abortive as his phone number was reported not reachable, but an aid to the traditional ruler who does not want his name mentioned said, the traditional ruler has traveled abroad either on a vacation or medical treatment and it was not certain when he would return to the country.