Abia Community Accuses Monarch Of Corrupt Practices, Seeks Govt Intervention

The people of Ohuru Ndoki in Ukwa-East Local Government Area (LGA), Abia state, have accused their traditional ruler, HRM Eze Obinna H. Nwagbara of mismanagement of public properties and gross abuse of office among others.

In a letter addressed to Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, copied to Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, Commissioner of Police, Mayor, Ukwa-East LGA among others, they alleged that the traditional ruler, conspired with Mr. Henry Nwaigwe and ThankGod Ekeke and sold nine pieces of electricity transformers (consisting of six 500 KVA and three 300 KVA), belonging to the community and converted the proceeds to personal use.

The petition which was also sighted by our reporter, further accused the Royal Father of fraudulently converting HR3 Lister, donated by Anambra Imo Rivers Basin Authority to the community to his personal property as well as sold theatre beds, Refrigerator, and other equipment belonging to Ohuru Health Centre.

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Contributing, an indigene of the community, Mr. Darlington Ahunanya alleged that Eze Nwagbara has been selling the community palm fruits which generates over N1,800,000 monthly and has refused to account for the proceeds, nor embarked on any developmental project with the proceeds.

Mr. Ahunanya also accused the traditional ruler of suffocating Ohuru Development Union and Youth wing of the community, explaining that those groups should have served as checks to the activities of community.

They further accused Eze Nwagbara of destroying some of the cultural artifacts of the community, calling on the Abia state Governor, to urgently investigate the corruption cases leveled against Eze Nwagbara, to forestall breakdown of law and order.

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They vowed to drag Eze Nwagbara to court of justice if Abia state government refuse to help them recover the community property or sweep the matter under the carpet.

Reacting to the allegations, the traditional ruler of Ohuru Ndoki autonomous community and the Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council, Ukwa-East LGA Chapter, Eze Obinna H. Nwagbara, denied the allegations.

He explained that Ohuru used to have 11 electric transformers, but the Council-of-chiefs and Eze-in-council, unanimously disposed six transformers as scraps, adding that they were not in good shapes.

On the alleged HRS Lister, Refrigerator and hospital beds belonging to Ohuru Health Centre he converted to personal use, Eze Nwagbara also denied it, noting that the health centre is not part of his jurisdiction, maintaining that the facility has a government employee who is in-charge.

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By Chukwuemeka Egejuru