The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obeagu-Ugwuaji Community, Hon. Okuwudili Joseph, has dismissed the recent protest by some women in the community alleging that their husbands were being hunted, insisting that the demonstration was sponsored and did not reflect the true position of the community.
Joseph, alongside the community’s legal representative, Barr. Idam, said the protest against the traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Christopher Ikenga Nyia, was orchestrated by loyalists of the former President General, Mr. Obi Chukwunonso, who they accused of trying to evade accountability over alleged illegal land transactions and financial misconduct.
Reacting to the protest, Joseph said most of those seen carrying placards were not genuine members of Obeagu-Ugwuaji but hired individuals brought in to create tension and discredit the traditional ruler.
“About 80 percent of those who protested are not even from the community. Many of them were hired and paid. Even from the videos circulating, you can clearly identify people who are not from Obeagu-Ugwuaji,” he said.
He described allegations that the Igwe sold community lands and embezzled over N400 million as false and misleading, stressing that the traditional ruler is not the sole signatory to the community’s account.
“The Igwe is not the sole signatory to the community’s account. The community operates a Union Bank account with about four signatories. Other signatories must sign before the Igwe can append his signature. There is no way he can single-handedly withdraw such an amount without the approval of the community,” Joseph stated.
He further explained that land allocations in the community follow a collective approval process involving multiple officials, including the Town Union President, Secretary, Land Committee Chairman, Land Committee Secretary, the Igwe, and elders of the various kindreds.
“There is no way the Igwe can single-handedly allocate land to any company or individual without the consent and approval of all these people,” he added.
Joseph accused former President General Obi Chukwunonso of resisting audit since his administration was dissolved in May 2025, alleging that the former leadership was involved in illegal land sales and forgery of land allocation documents.
“When we took over in May 2025, our mandate was clear—to audit the former leadership, amend the community constitution, and conduct free and fair elections. Since then, the former PG has resisted every attempt to audit his administration because of alleged illegal land sales carried out by him and his associates,” he said.
He claimed that forged land allocation papers and forged signatures of the Igwe had been used to sell land to unsuspecting buyers, with several complaints already lodged at police stations and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
“If you go to different police stations and even the FCID, there are reports of forged signatures, including forged signatures of the Igwe. These people have been fighting the Igwe because they want to protect the illegal transactions they carried out,” he stated.
Joseph also alleged that the same group had repeatedly disrupted community meetings and intimidated genuine landowners and developers who had fulfilled all community requirements.
“Whenever they see developers trying to build in the community, they go there to stop them, even after such persons have paid their dues into the community account. They create problems everywhere because they want to continue collecting illegal levies the government has already warned against,” he said.
He urged the public to disregard the protest and challenged the former PG to provide proof of the alleged N400 million embezzlement.
“I challenge the former Town Union President to publicly prove where the Igwe embezzled N400 million from. Let them show the account and the transactions. Most of those sponsoring this protest are the same people who were meant to be audited and they are simply trying to divert attention,” he said.
Barr. Ihenda Idam, the legal representative of the community, also defended the legitimacy of the Caretaker Committee and the traditional ruler, citing court judgments that upheld the dissolution of the former Town Union leadership led by Obi Chukwunonso.
He explained that the Enugu State Government lawfully dissolved the former leadership and constituted the Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Okuwudili Joseph, a decision later upheld by the High Court of Enugu State.
“The court clearly held that the Enugu State Government acted rightly when it dissolved the former Town Union leadership led by Obi Chukwunonso and also acted rightly in setting up the Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Okuwudili Joseph,” Barr. Idam said.
He noted that the court also restrained the dissolved executives from parading themselves as leaders or interfering with the activities of the Caretaker Committee.
“The court restrained them from acting, parading themselves, or interfering with the duties of the Caretaker Committee. So those carrying placards today were already lawfully dissolved by government and restrained by the court,” he stated.
On the issue of arrests and those declared wanted, Barr. Idam clarified that law enforcement agencies acted based on criminal complaints and due legal process, not at the instance of the traditional ruler.
“The bench warrant arose after some persons were charged by the police for crimes they allegedly committed. The court before whom they were charged deemed it fit, in the interest of justice, to remand those persons. That is what gave rise to the order after they failed repeatedly to appear before the court,” he explained.
He dismissed claims that such arrests amounted to persecution of innocent community members.
“So, that is what they now term as illegal arrest of their brothers and sisters? If anybody was illegally arrested, the law is very clear. You file for a fundamental rights application to enforce your rights,” he said.
“If your right to liberty was infringed in any manner, even for a second, you have the liberty to approach the court and seek judicial remedy by way of fundamental rights enforcement. Nobody should twist lawful prosecution into political persecution.”
Barr. Idam further criticized attempts by the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to restore the dissolved leadership despite existing court orders, describing the move as unlawful and malicious.
“The Ministry acted as if it was an appellate court by reversing the High Court judgment and attempting to restore the dissolved leadership. We challenged that in court and obtained fresh orders restraining the Ministry from taking any further action,” he said.
He maintained that Igwe Christopher Ikenga Nyia remains committed to peace and lawful leadership in the community.
“The Igwe is not against anybody. He has always preached peace. But in a democracy governed by the rule of law, nobody can place themselves above the law,” he added.
