About 11 members out of the 13-member committee have passed a vote of no confidence on the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Onitsha Bridge Head Market, Anambra State, Chinedu Akweke.
The traders are accusing him of embezzlement and extortion to the tune of over N1.6m and high handedness in managing the affairs of the market.
They, therefore, petitioned the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
Members that signed the petition included, Chief Peter Okeke, John Nwosu, Comrade Paschal Ezekwere, Nobert Okoli, Obinna Umeh, Peter Okala, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu, Chimezie Ohaii, Martina Uzowulu, Odera Nwosu, and Chibuike Okereke.
The petition made available to journalists on Sunday had the heading, ‘Coalition of 11 out of 13 member of Bridge Head Market Traders Association Caretaker Committee’.
The traders said those the chairman allegedly extorted were those who volunteered their shops to be demolished so that excavators could gain access to quench the fire that gutted the market on November 8, 2022, in which eight people were reportedly killed.
They claimed the chairman was said to have embarked on the reconstruction of those demolished shops without due authorisation, which prompted the governor to order him to stop work.
The petition read, “The extortion became the major reason for disobedience to government directives and misrepresentation of facts which have embarrassed not only the traders at Bridge head market but the entire government of Anambra State.
“Previously, we had written to Mr Governor concerning the high handedness, embezzlement of association funds and sidelining of the entire committee officers and members in the running of the association by Chinedu Ezekwike.
“Knowing fully well that government only depends on its Internally
Generated Revenues to function, that the criminal looting of government revenues of the past regime would not repeat itself in our time, that Mr Governor would set up a probe not only on Ezekwike but also the past regime.”
The aggrieved group further said that as the letter against Ezekwike was awaiting the governor’s approval, another series of sacrilegious and unbecoming attitude of Ezekwike, raised its ugly head in quick secession.
They said they had since distanced themselves from Ezekwike’s impunities and disrespect to constituted authorities, in connivance with his predecessor.
The petition was copied to the chairman, B.O.T, Bridge head Market Traders Association and President General, and Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association.
In a swift reaction, when contacted, the embattled chairman, Ezekweike, admitted having a copy of the petition but denied the allegations levelled against him stating that he never extorted the traders but rather that the Governor ordered him to stop work which he did.
“Mr Governor personally called me on phone and we discussed as father and son and he told me to stop work which I did. If they said I extorted the traders whose shops were demolished, let them show prove of the extortion,” he stated
He also admitted that a petition against him by the 11-committee member was sent to the governor, stating, however, that it may not be all the 11 members that were against him.
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