Ohaukwu Local Government Area was once a hub for decency and intelligence with renowned personalities both in politics and academics. Prior to the creation of Ebonyi State, when the old Abakaliki was yet battling to secure a place in the social clime, Ohaukwu had produced two brothers at once as the Deputy Governor and Speaker of old Enugu State.
At one time during the murky period of military interregnum in Nigeria, a civilian government structure was set up with complete civilian apparatus in all the 36 states of the country. The National Assembly was also put in place having only General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as the Military president. That time, Dr. Okwy Nwodo was the Governor of Enugu State, while the former Permanent Secretary in the old Anambra State, Dr. Emmanuel Icha Ituma from Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area was the Deputy Governor and Anthony Agbo also from Ngbo was the pioneer Speaker.
Upon creation of Ebonyi State, in the third republic, Dr. Icha Ituma became the Secretary of the State and later became the Nigerian ambassador to Australia.
At the same time, Anthony Agbo, a die hard politician and graduate of Mathematics from University of Nigeria became the Commissioner of Finance and later the pioneer Commissioner for Public Utilities. Subsequently, Anthony Agbo went to the National Assembly and represented Ebonyi North Senatorial zone in the Nigerian Senate. At present, he is the Executive Director Commercial and Industrial Development - South East Development Commission.
In Ohaukwu Local Government Area, there is an intimidating list of notable personalities. Suffice it to mention that Ohaukwu Local Government produced the First Executive Governor of Ebonyi State in person of Dr. Sam Egwu who was the pioneer Commissioner for Education in the State and later the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Education and a two time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The former Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Prof. Ozor Nweke Ozor of the blessed memory was one of the foremost celebrated leaders in the then Anambra State. He was from Ohaukwu Local Government Area. The late Chief Nwegede Nwangbo, late Chief Ali Agala, HRH Eze Achi Okpaga, HRH Eze Nwafor Odono were notable parliamentarians that represented good image of Ohaukwu LGA.
Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe was the pioneer Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State when HRH Eze Mike Nwankwo was the Principal Secretary to the Governor. While Onwe S. Onwe later became the National Secretary of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mike Nwankwo retained his position as PS in two consecutive administrations and personally refused to continue in the succeeding administration.
Indeed, Ohaukwu is blessed with human resources in all areas of endeavors including politics, academic and business. Available statistics has it that Ohaukwu has the highest number of professors in the entire Abakaliki block. At present, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI) Prof. Sunday Elom is an Ohaukwu man. Equally, another son of Ohaukwu soil, Justice Festus Obande Ogbuinya is among the most revered jurists in Nigeria. At present, he is one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The slogan "The Land of God" seem to be practicable in Ohaukwu when the above mentioned persons were in control of the affairs of the area.
Unfortunately, the storm began to weather in Ohaukwu Local Government Area when the new generation politicians set in. The saying that "the younger generation are the leaders of tomorrow" appear to have turned sore in Ohaukwu land as on the contrary, leadership baton is dropping into the hands of the unprepared generation.
While the member representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Eze Nwachukwu Eze, also an Ohaukwu indigene should be commended for using his position to facilitate the restoration of peace between Ngbo in Ohaukwu LGA and Agila in Ado LGA of Benue State who have been at war for over 100 years, other ones currently occupying vital positions in the state and local government are doing terrible disservice to the people. The two warring communities of Agila and Ngbo shall though be eternally grateful to Chief Eze Nwachukwu Eze, but it is so disheartening the way Ohaukwu is fast drifting into anarchy with the wolves in sheep skin who neither have regard for the elders nor for the land.
HOW DID WE ARRIVE HERE?
The clamour for power, engrossed with acute selfishness and clanish mindset even to undo the elders and past leaders have been responsible for the disrespect and total disregard to the culture and values of Ohaukwu land.
Instead of pursuing or representing the interest of the people through the promotion of the core values of Ohaukwu land, the later day politicians, driven by the gods of the foreign lands including cultism, were so deceptive that they pretentiously served under the older breeds with the aim of receiving the mantle from them.
Unlike Prophet Elisha of the Bible who inherited the master's mantle and used it for the good of the Israelites, the latest breed of politicians in Ohaukwu rather took the mantle for witch hunting. Instead of defending their people, they choose to unleash mayhem on them. Instead of fighting social vices and injustice, they promote criminalities and defend the criminals.
In Ohaukwu today, cultism is a yardstick for political positions and appointments. Killings have become common practice in Ohaukwu and the law has been prevented from taking its natural course because political office holders who are currently in government are committed to do anything to get murderers out of the pangs of the law enforcement agencies. Arrest a murderer this morning and before noon, he is out threatening to kill more persons.
Most killers in Ohaukwu Local Government Area who were apprehended by the police through the help of the communities regained their freedom following the intervention of Ohaukwu people in government who are readily available to take the criminals on bail in order to cover up the fact about the killings which were masterminded by the politicians themselves. None of the criminals had ever been prosecuted thereby making Ohaukwu a lawless land.
The killing rate was rising to the high heaven until one dark Sunday, precisely on 5th February, 2023 when the hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the Local Government Chairman who drove in an APC branded vehicle went to Umuogudu Akpu axis of Okwo Ngbo market and shot an innocent boy, Elom Chinonso (AKA OSCAR) for refusing to join them in cult activities.
The killing of that young innocent boy "Oscar" sparked off heated tension in Ngbo as the youths went on rampage that nearly disrupted the 2023 Nigerian general election in the entire Ohaukwu.
Following the protest and the intervention of some groups and leaders in Ngbo who assured the youths that efforts will be expedited to bring the perpetrators to book, the tension was doused to a reasonable proportion but not without the persistent push for justice to be done.
Fortunately, with the help of some combined strata of youths who were committed to getting "Justice for Oscar" four of the suspects including the very person that did the shooting were apprehended and arraigned by the police while others are still at large.
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THE IMBROGLIO
The drama that ensued even before the arraignment of the vipers was so unbelievable, apparently disgusting and very demeaning of the caliber of people that were involved (The new generation politicians). They did all manners of things including unhealthy consultations and giving gratifications to relevant quarters in their bid to frustrate the legal processes. The most stupid of their antics was attempt to bribe the father and family members of the diseased so that they can accept to withdraw from pursuing the murder case of their innocent young child to a logical conclusion. But alas, the stiff resistance of the family was the greatest disappointment they ever saw. Many times they spend huge amount of monies in the police and the judiciary to secure release of the suspects but to their greatest discomfiture, their spendings weren't good enough.
THE JUDICIAL COMPROMISE
When the river flows from down to the top, it will be seen as sacrilege and when the people who are supposed to make soup with goat meat does so with mushroom, it becomes a shame. The new generation politicians in Ohaukwu have compelled the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to commit such sacrilege that has never been seen nor heard anywhere in the world which if allowed will do the greatest disservice to humanity all over the globe. Injustice to one is injustice to all.
When a dreaded militia group known as 12 Apostles in Ukwagba community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area said to be led by the President of the Town Union hacked one Peter Omeh Eze (Omuma) to death for not accepting to join them in their destructive activities, it was gathered that the same crop of new generation politicians in their usual traditional bravado went to frustrate the investigation process. When the police finally nabbed the murderous militias, the guardian angels went to State Attorney General and lured him into doing their bidding. And the Attorney General did what has never been done in the history of law anywhere in the world. We shall come back to that later.
The Eye Witness News NAIJA publication of September 12, 2024 had it that a “Militia group” known as the 12 Apostles has been accused of causing mayhem in Ukwagba Ngbo Autonomous Community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It was reported that the militia group is involved in all manner of atrocities including extortion, maiming, kidnapping, killing innocent people in the community. They brandish and display AK47 rifles at will threatening to kill whoever tries to disobey their order. Most times they force their victim to accept ownership of the gun that they will give to the person and compel the person to bail himself with amount not less than three hundred thousand naira.
The militia group which militarization acts was alleged to have brought palpable fear and uneasiness among members of Ukwagba Community have the backing of few powers that be in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. "It was gathered that some members of the Community have gotten their properties destroyed, lives lost and monies allegedly extorted by the self-acclaimed Militia group"
On 3rd day of August, 2024, the chairman of Aguachi Village, Eze Ikechukwu issued a directive which he said to be the resolution from office of the Town Union President of Ukwagba, Mr. Godwin Awoke, that one Peter Omeh Eze (aka Omuma) should leave Ukwagba within two weeks. The question now should be, where will a bonafide citizen of a community go to when he is chased away indefinitely from his place of origin?
When at the expiration of the two weeks it was discovered that Omuma was still in the village, the TUP Godwin Awoke dispatched the Militia group to go and fetch him dead or alive on 23rd of August, 2024.
Eventually, the militants intercepted the said Peter Omeh Eze (Omuma) where he was taking respite in a shop at Nwuburu Aguachi village and told him that they were on a mission to fetch him.
Omuma demanded to know why they have come to him on such a mission? but they told him that they have nothing to say until they get to the TUP.
“According to the owner of the shop, Eze Nweze Oge ( Alias sharp) Omuma began to counsel them to desist from their unholy activities as that can never do them any good but harm.
Thinking that he can succeed in making peace with the horrific looking men, Omuma opted to buy drinks for them which they actually accepted. Surprise that the militants have persisted on dragging him to their destination, Omuma appealed to the shop owner to collect his phone and the thirty thousand naira with him and hand over to his son in case he didn't return alive.
At that point, they dragged him outside and hit him several times on the skull until he fell flat on his pool of blood. Unfortunately, the helpless Omuma met his Waterloo and never returned alive as pre-perceived. The killers took his corpse away to an unknown place and returned to the shop owner later and forcefully collected from him the money and phone that the diseased entrusted into his care earlier before he was murdered.
AIDING AND ABETTING: The Undoings of Attorney General.
If Aiding and abetting, in a legal context, refers to helping or encouraging someone else to commit a crime, or assisting in its commission, then Ebonyi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice can be held culpable in the judicial compromise that has played out in the process that gave freedom to the murder suspects in less than one week that they were remanded in correctional centre.
The family of the slain Peter Ome Eze (Omuma) had expressed fear that they may be denied justice following the unjustly stance of the Honourable Attorney General of Ebonyi State who appears to have taken side in favour of the suspected killers of their son.
In a petition written to the Chairman, Ebonyi State Judicial Service Commission dated 14/03/2025 and signed by Elijah O. Omeh Esq. of D. I. Njoku & Co stated that a "charge of murder was filed in Abakaliki Magistrate Court in charge No: MAB/64C/2025 (COP vs. Awoke Godwin & Anor)" The family further explained that "after police investigation; two sets of suspects were charged to court for the murder"
While the first set was charged to court on 10/10/2024 in charge No: MAB/613C/2024 (COP vs. Oge Sunday & Anor) and they were remanded in Correctional Custody. The second set was charged to court on 13/02/2025 in Charge No: MAB/64/2025 (COP vs. Awoke Godwin & Anor) and they were remanded in correctional custody. Mr. Awoke Godwin and Omeh Oge Ejike in the said charge were arraigned in Magistrate Court 1 Abakaliki on 13/02/2025 and were remanded in correctional custody the same day. Surprisingly, the two suspects were released from the Correctional Custody on 21/02/2025, barely one week after their remand.
Startled by the judicial maladministration, counsel to the diseased family went on enquiry to ascertain the rationale behind the charade, it was discovered to the greatest chagrin of most legal practitioners that an application for bail dated 17/02/2025, was filed in the High Court of Justice Ezzangbo Judicial Division and was listed for hearing on 21/02/25. The worst happened when on the day of hearing, the motion for bail was called up by the court and a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice who should be appearing for the complainant on behalf of the state told the court that "We are not opposed to the application based on the directive of the Honourable Attorney General, Ebonyi State not to oppose same"
The court though noted that the charge was murder but based on the lack of opposition from the Ministry of Justice proceeded to deliver a bench ruling in favour of the application without considering the facts stated in the affidavit in support.
Worse still, when the lawyers went to Ezzangbo High Court Registrar to confirm whether the release of the defendants were in compliance with the due process of bail in High Court, they were informed that the bail was not processed. The implication is that the defendants were released the same day of the judgement without due process and there was no record in the court to show that the release was actually made as the registry of the High Court of Ohaukwu Judicial Division was not aware of the release.
Meanwhile, family members of the diseased have cried unto the State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to come to their aid as they no longer trust the judiciary upon which the foundation of law practice is rooted in public confidence.
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