In Search of The Truth
By
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
John Ositadimima Umenyiora, the traditional ruler of Ogbunike in Anambra State rejects allegations that he has a hand in the crisis in his community and points accusing finger at two other indegenes of the area
By Andrew Airahuobhor
For John OsitadimIma Umenyiora, the traditional ruler of Ogbunike community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, these are indeed trying times. He is worried stiff about the allegations attempting to link him with the recent protest, arson and mayhem in Osile, a village in Ogbunike, which resulted in loss of lives and properties.
About five persons were said to have died with several buildings burnt during the mayhem which is unprecedented in the history of the community. Among those alleged to be behind the allegation is Ilochi Okafor, SAN, and vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who himself had served Umenyiora as legal adviser. Umenyiora's prayer is that the truth be revealed in the matter.
Already, Peter Obi, governor of the state has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the mayhem. He appointed Patrick Ibe Amaizu, retired justice of the Court of Appeal to head the five-man commission of inquiry March 6. The committee is to investigate the immediate and remote cause or causes of the protest, arson and mayhem, identify the person or persons responsible for it, determine the role played by any person or persons and make recommendations generally which will forestall further incidents and future occurrences. The Commission was given 21 days to submit its final report.
Okafor, who is a professor of law, had told a weekly magazine recently that Unmenyiora was always inciting the community against any one that has a rising profile in the community. The professor was also quoted to have said that the Igwe does this because he wants to be a lone star in the development of the community. Okafor alleged that the traditional ruler has been opposing NAUOSIL Properties and Investment Company Limited, which he initiated to provide employment for the community.
Umenyiora has, however, denied the allegations. He told Newswatch that the mayhem has nothing to do with him whatsoever. He alleged that problem was a fall-out of the vicious interest of Okafor and Chukwujama Ofoche to become his Akaeze (traditional prime minister). Okafor and Ofoche, he said, had allegedly approached the traditional ruler for the position of prime minister at different times but he turned them down because they were not qualified for the position. Another cause of the problem he said, is the seizure of Osile Welfare League, OWL, by a group he described as a cabal for over 23 years. Ofoche-led sit-tight leadership of OWL has been variously opposed by the Osile people, he alleged. The third issue is the allegations NAUOSIL Properties and Investment Company Limited.
Ikechukwu Chirah, a community leader, in the area also corroborated Umenyiora's claim in his memorandum submitted to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the disturbances in Osile, a copy of which was given to Newswatch. In the memorandum titled: The burning of Osile village Ogbunike: The facts and Truths, Chirah alleged that Okafor effectively occupied the Ataoji Osile communal lands using armed cult members led by one Ugochukwu Udeorah. He also allegedly instructed Udeorah and some others to use armed cult team to break up the youth protest. The role played by Ofoche in the mayhem was the perpetuation of Ofoche president-general of OWL and his group in power for over 23 years was part of the remote and immediate causes of the civil disturbances in Osile Ogbunike.
According to him, they perpetuated themselves in violation of the constitution of the Osile Welfare League and his alleged total disregard for probity and accountability in the management of the resources of the community. He added that Ofoche was acting in defiance of the directives of Anambra State government dissolving his executive committee of OWL.
Another cause of the crisis is alleged illegal formation and maintenance of armed gangs (OWL Vigilante) and its alleged use to intimidate, harass Osile people and perpetuate his rule. The agitation for the people to leave office by the youths was resisted by Ofoche group with the alleged use of armed group together with the police.
Newswatch was told that the people of Osile have long been complaining about the alleged sit-tight attitude of Ofoche-led administration of OWL. Due to the several complaints to the state government from the Osile people, the Anambra State government dissolved the executive of OWL. The dissolution was contained in a letter with reference number; OSPA/LG/CM/010/119/84 and signed by P.C. Ogbuka, special adviser to the then governor Chris Ngige on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. Subsequently a nine-member caretaker committee was appointed for the union in December 2005. The committee was to prepare adequate grounds for a successful general election into the executive council of OWL to be supervised by the Anambra State government representative when directed.
But Ofoche allegedly refused to recognise the caretaker committee and, therefore, refused to handover the running of the affairs of the community to the caretaker committee. Subsequently, Ofoche and his group instituted court action in Otuocha High Court. In the suit No OT/50/2005 Ofoche sought among other relief, an order of interlocutory injunction restraining him and his executive committee from handing over authority or properties, accounts or administration of the OWL or in any other manner whatsoever, hand over authority or properties, accounts or administration of OWL to any other person or the purported caretaker committee set up by the special adviser to the governor of Anambra State on local government and chieftaincy matters, DR. P.C. Ogbuka pending the determination of the substantive suit. The presiding judge in his suit on same date issued an interim order restraining Ofoche from handing over the affairs of OWL to any person or group of persons.
Members of the caretaker committee were allegedly arrested and charged to court on allegations of disobedience of court orders.
Some members of Osile OgbunikeYouths and concerned citizens of Osile have also sought for way to end the crisis. Several letters and reminders have been written to the governor to intervene in the crisis. B.S.C. Ibeziako, solicitors to Osile Ogbunike Youths, in a letter written to the commissioner of police on behalf of the youths, said they could not support the development of Osile lands by NAUOSIL Property and Investment Company because the company had been sued by Osile people "for wrong entry into and illegal acquisition of their land." They claimed that NAUOSIL is a private company with Okafor as chairman/managing director. The area being acquired forcefully by NAUOSIL had previously been mapped out for Afor Osile Market and residential plots for Osile people.
Newswatch was told that contrary to Okafor's claim that NAUOSIL was a joint venture between Osile village and the university, was as far as available documents showed contrary. This is because documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, indicate that the company was registered in their personal capacity. There was no document showing the institution and the village owning shares.
The company was incorporated on August 15, 2005 as evidenced in the Certified True Copy of Memomart of the company. The directors of the company are five in number as attached in the relevant CTC of particulars of directors. The share capital of the company is one million naira divided into one million ordinary shares of one naira each. Allotment of 450,000 shares has been made to the five directors and four other subscribers of the company. The five directors and four other subscribers subscribed for 50,000 shares each. In the Memorandum of Association, all the nine subscribers of the company are people from different fields of endeavour and not necessarily representing Nnamdi Azikiwe University or Osile village.
This was apparently what the villagers discovered that prompted Osile people to oppose the company's illegal acquisition of its land.
The recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry will go a long way in calming frayed nerves in the crisis that has engulfed the community. Umenyiora is optimistic that the truth of the matter will eventually emerge. According to him, the solution to the problem in Osile is the establishing of a law to bar anyone from occupying the leadership of OWL for more than two terms. This will allow room for accountability.
traditional ruler of Ogbunike in Anambra State rejects allegations that he has a hand in the crisis in his community and points accusing finger at two other indegenes of the area
By Andrew Airahuobhor
For John OsitadimIma Umenyiora, the traditional ruler of Ogbunike community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, these are indeed trying times. He is worried stiff about the allegations attempting to link him with the recent protest, arson and mayhem in Osile, a village in Ogbunike, which resulted in loss of lives and properties.
About five persons were said to have died with several buildings burnt during the mayhem which is unprecedented in the history of the community. Among those alleged to be behind the allegation is Ilochi Okafor, SAN, and vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who himself had served Umenyiora as legal adviser. Umenyiora's prayer is that the truth be revealed in the matter.
Already, Peter Obi, governor of the state has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the mayhem. He appointed Patrick Ibe Amaizu, retired justice of the Court of Appeal to head the five-man commission of inquiry March 6. The committee is to investigate the immediate and remote cause or causes of the protest, arson and mayhem, identify the person or persons responsible for it, determine the role played by any person or persons and make recommendations generally which will forestall further incidents and future occurrences. The Commission was given 21 days to submit its final report.
Okafor, who is a professor of law, had told a weekly magazine recently that Unmenyiora was always inciting the community against any one that has a rising profile in the community. The professor was also quoted to have said that the Igwe does this because he wants to be a lone star in the development of the community. Okafor alleged that the traditional ruler has been opposing NAUOSIL Properties and Investment Company Limited, which he initiated to provide employment for the community.
Umenyiora has, however, denied the allegations. He told Newswatch that the mayhem has nothing to do with him whatsoever. He alleged that problem was a fall-out of the vicious interest of Okafor and Chukwujama Ofoche to become his Akaeze (traditional prime minister). Okafor and Ofoche, he said, had allegedly approached the traditional ruler for the position of prime minister at different times but he turned them down because they were not qualified for the position. Another cause of the problem he said, is the seizure of Osile Welfare League, OWL, by a group he described as a cabal for over 23 years. Ofoche-led sit-tight leadership of OWL has been variously opposed by the Osile people, he alleged. The third issue is the allegations NAUOSIL Properties and Investment Company Limited.
Ikechukwu Chirah, a community leader, in the area also corroborated Umenyiora's claim in his memorandum submitted to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the disturbances in Osile, a copy of which was given to Newswatch. In the memorandum titled: The burning of Osile village Ogbunike: The facts and Truths, Chirah alleged that Okafor effectively occupied the Ataoji Osile communal lands using armed cult members led by one Ugochukwu Udeorah. He also allegedly instructed Udeorah and some others to use armed cult team to break up the youth protest. The role played by Ofoche in the mayhem was the perpetuation of Ofoche president-general of OWL and his group in power for over 23 years was part of the remote and immediate causes of the civil disturbances in Osile Ogbunike.
According to him, they perpetuated themselves in violation of the constitution of the Osile Welfare League and his alleged total disregard for probity and accountability in the management of the resources of the community. He added that Ofoche was acting in defiance of the directives of Anambra State government dissolving his executive committee of OWL.
Another cause of the crisis is alleged illegal formation and maintenance of armed gangs (OWL Vigilante) and its alleged use to intimidate, harass Osile people and perpetuate his rule. The agitation for the people to leave office by the youths was resisted by Ofoche group with the alleged use of armed group together with the police.
Newswatch was told that the people of Osile have long been complaining about the alleged sit-tight attitude of Ofoche-led administration of OWL. Due to the several complaints to the state government from the Osile people, the Anambra State government dissolved the executive of OWL. The dissolution was contained in a letter with reference number; OSPA/LG/CM/010/119/84 and signed by P.C. Ogbuka, special adviser to the then governor Chris Ngige on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. Subsequently a nine-member caretaker committee was appointed for the union in December 2005. The committee was to prepare adequate grounds for a successful general election into the executive council of OWL to be supervised by the Anambra State government representative when directed.
But Ofoche allegedly refused to recognise the caretaker committee and, therefore, refused to handover the running of the affairs of the community to the caretaker committee. Subsequently, Ofoche and his group instituted court action in Otuocha High Court. In the suit No OT/50/2005 Ofoche sought among other relief, an order of interlocutory injunction restraining him and his executive committee from handing over authority or properties, accounts or administration of the OWL or in any other manner whatsoever, hand over authority or properties, accounts or administration of OWL to any other person or the purported caretaker committee set up by the special adviser to the governor of Anambra State on local government and chieftaincy matters, DR. P.C. Ogbuka pending the determination of the substantive suit. The presiding judge in his suit on same date issued an interim order restraining Ofoche from handing over the affairs of OWL to any person or group of persons.
Members of the caretaker committee were allegedly arrested and charged to court on allegations of disobedience of court orders.
Some members of Osile OgbunikeYouths and concerned citizens of Osile have also sought for way to end the crisis. Several letters and reminders have been written to the governor to intervene in the crisis. B.S.C. Ibeziako, solicitors to Osile Ogbunike Youths, in a letter written to the commissioner of police on behalf of the youths, said they could not support the development of Osile lands by NAUOSIL Property and Investment Company because the company had been sued by Osile people "for wrong entry into and illegal acquisition of their land." They claimed that NAUOSIL is a private company with Okafor as chairman/managing director. The area being acquired forcefully by NAUOSIL had previously been mapped out for Afor Osile Market and residential plots for Osile people.
Newswatch was told that contrary to Okafor's claim that NAUOSIL was a joint venture between Osile village and the university, was as far as available documents showed contrary. This is because documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, indicate that the company was registered in their personal capacity. There was no document showing the institution and the village owning shares.
The company was incorporated on August 15, 2005 as evidenced in the Certified True Copy of Memomart of the company. The directors of the company are five in number as attached in the relevant CTC of particulars of directors. The share capital of the company is one million naira divided into one million ordinary shares of one naira each. Allotment of 450,000 shares has been made to the five directors and four other subscribers of the company. The five directors and four other subscribers subscribed for 50,000 shares each. In the Memorandum of Association, all the nine subscribers of the company are people from different fields of endeavour and not necessarily representing Nnamdi Azikiwe University or Osile village.
This was apparently what the villagers discovered that prompted Osile people to oppose the company's illegal acquisition of its land.
The recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry will go a long way in calming frayed nerves in the crisis that has engulfed the community. Umenyiora is optimistic that the truth of the matter will eventually emerge. According to him, the solution to the problem in Osile is the establishing of a law to bar anyone from occupying the leadership of OWL for more than two terms. This will allow room for accountability.
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