-Set to Challenge legality of IMC in Court
The lawmaker representing Oguta State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly (IMHA) Owerri, Hon Barr Prince Frank Ugboma, has dragged the appointed Co-ordinator/Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman of Oguta LGA, Emma Mazi, before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC) over what he termed unwarranted and provocative diversion of palliatives meant for Oguta LGA.
In a petition dated August 3,2020 signed by the vocal lawmaker, Hon Frank Ugboma with caption “instigation of violence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, diversion of palliative meant for Oguta LGA, Imo State by Emma Mazi”, addressed to the Chairman of ICPC,he stated thus, “may I bring to your notice, the present looming disaster and serious threat to Public Peace and tranquility in Orsu-Obodo Autonomous Community. This looming crisis, unfortunately is being instigated and promoted by Emma Mazi who in a desperate frolick to instigate violence, having purportedly dissolved the Town Unions, Women and Youth wings in a peaceful Oru Ward, my ward and my immediate community, just to spite at me.
The palliatives were part of those delivered to oil producing states and communities by NDDC, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The lawmaker who posited that Oguta LGA, formed the nucleus for the inclusion of Imo State in the NDDC, regrets that despite being a goose that lays the golden eggs, the area seems to be the most unfortunate in the distribution of what ordinarily is her benefits.
“This unfortunate incident has continued unabated for years now and has further been demonstrated albeit, regrettably during this pandemic as all the palliative donated to Oguta LGA to assist the long suffering, neglected and environmentally devastated and degraded area developed legs created by Emma Mazi”, he lamented.
The release further stated,”The Interim Management Committee Chairman is an appointee and as such has no such powers to arrogate legal authority or status to himself without .due consultation with me, I have been mandated by my constituents to bring the foregoing to your attention and as a messenger of this obviously abandoned and neglected people, I am under obligation to inform them of your actions in view of the above subject matter.
“I have been inundated with calls from Traditional Rulers, the Police at Oguta and Izombe respectively, complaining about incessant letters, proliferating youth bodies and so many organizations in the environ, pleading with me to call Emma Mazi to order.
“In view of Emma Mazi’s infantile desperation to plunge the L.G.A, into needless violence and breach of Public Peace, it has become urgent that he is immediately called to order and compelled to withdraw the letters and cease from promoting parallel bodies against the wishes of these communities to avert the looming danger as the villagers may in self defense resort to self-help and this, I believe would not be in the interest of the L.G.A, and the State.
As an Honourable member with oversight functions, the only elected political office holder from Oguta LGA, the only constitutionally recognized political office holder in Oguta L.G.A and the first stakeholder in Oguta LGA, I cannot sit and watch these unfolding drama at a kimbo and helplessly.
Ugboma vowed to proceed to the court to determine the legality of the Interim Management Committees or the Co-ordinators, who were recently labeled ghost workers by a Federal High Court.
He hinted that his lawyer has already been directed to approach the law court to interpret the status or place of a council Co-ordinator for which Emma Mazi is now arrogating powers to hijack palliatives meant for Oguta people. He argued that IMC has no role in the administration or management of the resources of Oguta people outside his role as the elected leaders and representative of the people.
Ugboma wants the court to interpret his position vis-a-viz his constitutional roles to carryout oversight functions as a lawmaker and legitimate leader.
The ever vocal and courageous lawmaker however vowed never to leave any stone unturned in his quest or determination to ensure that the people are no longer taken for granted or their elected representative sidelined in the scheme of things based on his political party.
Asserting his leadership role, Frank Ugboma stated that, having secured the mandate of Oguta people, his covenant with them is to protect the interest, welfare of the people irrespective of political affiliation hence his resolve to dig deep and get to the root of the misconduct.
