Commissioner Deacon Ogbodo: Asked to resign to avert communal crisis
The Enugu state Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, has been advised to resign immediately for allegedly instigating crisis across Enugu communities over town union and Igweship matter.
The advice was given by an Enugu legal practitioner Barrister Emeka Abah, in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu on Tuesday.
Barrister Abah in the statement stated that Deacon Ogbodo’s continued stay in office could plunge some communities into crisis that may probably lead to the break down of law and order.
According to the statement 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 it’s Commissioner Deacon Okey Ogbodo, among others, from constituting a care taker committee of the Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union pending the determination of the substantive application for Judicial Review which was ignored by the Commissioner.
The order reads that “2nd respondent ie 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.”
Investigation shows 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.
Barrister Abah wondered the interest of Deacon Ogbodo in town union election if not for alleged corruption noting that many communities are in disarray as a result of action and inactions of Deacon Ogbodo.
In addition to seeking Gov. Mbah’s intervention to quel the crisis, the community has also taken steps to commit the commissioner to prison over contempt related matters.
This was consequent upon filing of Form 48 in a suite number E/508M/2025 with the title NOTICE OF CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDER OF COURT.
The President-General of Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union, Mr. Obi Chukwunomso Freedom among others had filled an application for a judicial review in a suit NO: E/508/2025 and was granted not that his tenure is still subsisting as the chairman of the Obeagu Ugwuaji community.
Mr. Freedom alleged that the commissioner upon receiving the order backdated the appointment letters of the purported caretaker to give it legitimacy.
Barrister Abah who is counsel to Obeagu Ugwuaji community expressed dismay over the action of the commissioner and wondered his interest in who becomes the chairman of the place
Sought to comment on the court order, Ogbodo simply said that the action had taken place before the receipt of the injunction.
