Ebonyi LG boss, Ogodo-Ali orders arrest of Ahia ofuu market leader over alleged diversion of N22m

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The chairman of Ezza north local government area of Ebonyi State, Mr. Ogodo-Ali Nomeh has ordered for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the chairman of Ahia ofuu market Mr Ikechukwu Nwankwo over an allegation of diversion of N22m.

Ahia Ofuu market is located along Abakaliki / Enugu expressway.

Nomeh made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki shortly after a protest by Ahia Ofuu market traders, who petitioned the governor, Francis Nwifuru and the state house of assembly over alleged abuse of office, extortion and demand for his removal as council chairman of Ezza north local government area.

According to Ogodo-Ali: “What happened is that the chairman of Ahia ofuu market has sold 150 shops in the market without any approval either from the state or from the local government.They said he collected 22,500,000.And he sold the 150 shops at the rate of 150,000 each.

Soludo silences opposition with his achievements – Igweship candidate insists

“If you do the arithmetic, it will give you that figure. I gave the report to the police and ordered that he should be arrested to account for the money for the government.”Nobody entered the market to ask for anything, or to ask for revenue or ask for dues or ask for any other thing. 

It is the market chairman that is running away from being arrested from the police that instigated those people to come and do that demonstration.

“And the people doing it are the people whom he collected that money from, who are afraid that we will come to close their shops. That is the truth. Nobody entered the market to collect any dues or any revenue or ask for a shop” he stated.

Earlier, the association of Ahia ofuu market women in their numbers had protested against the threat to life, intimidation and harassment of their chairman, Ikechukwu Nwankwo by the Ezza north council chairman, Moses Ogodali Nomeh, just because Nwankwo allegedly refused to be a tool for the exploitation of 250,000 from the poor market women.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions; Moses Ogodali Nomeh should be removed as council chairman, we are tired of his intimidation and harassment, we say no to extortion, misappropriation, etc.

The traders, equally moved to the Ebonyi state house of assembly to present their petition to the speaker, Moses Odunwa as a way to register their grievances.

They demanded that the council chairman Ogodo-Ali should stop using  police to harass their market chairman, the traditional ruler of Okposi Umuoghara Autonomous Community, and other stakeholders of the community.

The protesters noted that the continued invitation by police is inimical to the peace and development of umuoghara community, adding that no responsible mother would sit at home and watch their children suffer such threats to lives without going to the street to protest and demand for their freedoms.

They further demanded that Ogodo-Ali should be called to order, and that the market leadership and the community are ready for any discussion, aimed at resolving the crisis and restoring peace and order in the Ahia Ofuu market.

In a swift reaction, the chairman House Committee on market development, Onu Ukpai, and the Clark of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, who received the petition from the protesters on behalf of the speaker, assured them of the quick intervention of the house of assembly, and to restore a lasting peace in the crisis ridden market and community.