Civil Order: Enugu community Appeals To Gov. Mbah To Call Commissioner Ogbodo to Order Over Undue Interference
Obeagu Ugwuaji Community in Enugu South local government area of Enugu State has called on the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah to call the Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo to order to avoid possible break down of law and order in the area.
In addition to seeking Gov. Mbah’s intervention to quel the crisis, the community has also taken legal steps to commit the commissioner to prison over contempt related matters.
This was consequent upon filling of Form 48 in a suite number E/508M/2025 with the title NOTICE OF CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDER OF COURT.
Justice C.A Ogbuabo of the Enugu State high court had on 2nd June,2025, issued an injunction prohibiting the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs and its Commissioner Deacon Okey Ogbodo, among others, from constituting a caretaker committee of the Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union pending the determination of the substantive application for Judicial Review which was ignored by the Commissioner.
The president general of Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union, Mr Obi Chukwunonso Freedom among others had filed an application for a judicial review in a suit NO: E/508/2025 and was granted.
The order reads that “2nd respondent,Deacon Okey Ogbodo is hereby prohibited from constituting a caretaker committee of the Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union pending the determination of the substantive application for Judicial Review.
It is further alleged that in a flagrant disobedience to the order of the court, the Commissioner purportedly moved ahead to constitute a caretaker to pilot the affairs of the community thereby necessitating the contempt proceedings.
The president general, Freedom Obinna also alleged that the commissioner upon receiving the order backdated the appointment letters of the purported caretaker to give it legitimacy.
The counsel to Obeagu Ugwuaji community, Emeka Abah expressed dismay over the action of the commissioner and wondered his interest in who becomes the chairman of the place
Mr Abah pointed out that every legal and judicial process would be explored and assured that his chambers has commenced processes of filling form 49 and all things being equal the commissioner would be committed to prison as law is not a respecter of anyone.
Media reports say seeking to gather comments on the court order, Ogbodo simply said that the action had taken place before the receipt of the injunction.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He was the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state who handed over to the Caretaker Committee currently in the Council.
samowailo@gmail.com
