BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Fresh fact has emerged over the plot to impose a Caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of Obeagu Ugwuaji Community Development Union by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs against court injunction.
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The revelation was contained in a statement by the President General of Obeagu Ugwuaji Community, Mr Obi Chukwunomso Freedom while reacting to a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Mr.Sammie Eche-Agbo titled, “RE: FALSE CLAIMS AND MISINFORMATION ON THE CONSTITUTION OF A CARETAKER COMMITTEE IN OBEAGU UGWUAJI COMMUNITY.”
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The Commissioner in the purported release said that the 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.
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The Commissioner never mentioned any action or inaction of Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union that is 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.
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But reacting to Ogbodo’s stance 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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The desperate move to change the town union according to the President-General was an act of corruption fighting back all those individuals, organisation, alleged government officials that benefitted from the largesse are fighting tooth and nail.
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All efforts to get the reaction of the traditional ruler of Obeagu Ugwuaji Community, Igwe Christopher Nyia proved abortive as his phone number was not reachable, but an Aide 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.
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Recall that the president general had earlier accused the commissioner for local government, rural development and Chieftaincy Affairs Deacon Okey Ogbodo of complexity in Obeagu Ugwuaji Town Union crisis.
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He alleged that the commissioner was intending to set a caretaker committee not minding a court injunction restraining him from that pending the determination of application for a judicial review.
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