– Allegation is false, says Imo monarch
– As Community leaders accuse PG, call on Uzodimma to intervene
By Ibe Joy, Owerri
September 2 (Newshour.com.ng) – Following the allegation of N50M bribery by community leaders of Mgbala Agwa Autonomous Community in Oguta local government area of Imo State over an electricity project by an oil company, the traditional ruler of Mgbala Agwa Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Blaise Ubah, has described the bribery allegation as false.
Last Thursday in Owerri, community leaders from Mgbala Agwa led by the Land Priest, Canice Uzor, Nathan Ejiakor, Ejiekwu Tim Ejiekwu, Monday Nnanna and Kelvin Elu, told journalists that they have called for intervention of Imo State government on the matter.
They insisted on the sack of their President-General, Nwokocha Prince Ezembi over the alleged link in the demand of N50 million from the contract sum of the electricity project by an oil company in the community.
According to the community leaders, they decided to write to government because the apprehension that the electricity project had come to an abrupt end due to the bribery allegation of N50 million, thereby putting the community in more pain.
They also urged Governor Hope Uzodimma, to plead with the office of the member Representing the Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West at the House of Representatives, Hon Eugene Dibiagwu, to stop foisting Ezembi on them as the President-General of the community after he (Ezembi) was sacked by the community.
Hear them: “We don’t want him again, we have removed him. He is no longer our PG because while in office, Nwokocha Prince Ezembi entered into a secret bargain with a contractor handling the electrification project in our clan to swindle N50,000,000 from the contract sum and this has stalled the electricity project.
“Our decision was based on the urgent need to save our community from further neglect, break down of law and order and as well save the governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration from internal and external sabotage.
“So, we deemed it necessary to bring to your notice the ugly development.
“Our anger also is that he rejected the General Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU/Projects Implementation Monitoring Committee set up by the government in 2021 and set up his own which he also chairs.
“We are not also happy that Eugene Dibiagwu, the House of Rep member has been attempting to recognise him (Ezembi) as the PG of the community despite his sack.”
Continuing on the alleged sack of the President General, HRH Eze Ubah said: “Nobody removed him. I have not got any paper from anybody. I have not received any paper from the Sole Administrator of the local government area, SOLAD.
“I have not received any paper from my governor. Nobody has changed him. He is still the PG.
“The alleged demand of a N50 million bribe is a false allegation. The electricity project is going on.
“Apart from all these crises, the job is going on. They sent a delegation to me and I told them to wait until after governor’s election.
“The President General, Ezembi, is ready to go but until after the governor’s election. We sit down and know those who will be the President-General of Mgbala Agawa.”
The royal father disclosed that the PG who was said to have been arrested, had been released. “Ezembi (PG) has been released now as I am talking to you. They forged an allegation against him”, Eze Ubah stated.
Our correspondent could not reach the House of Representatives member, Hon Dibiagwu or his aide, Utonwa Utonwa to react to the issues at the time of filing this report.
