Traders Narrate How Enugu State Government Short-changed Them, Falsified Articles Of Association Of Orba Without Their Knowledge
The Orba Modern Market Traders' Association, OMATTA, has accused the Enugu State government of allegedly falsefing the shareholdings of the market, set up by the World Bank and UNDP during the administration of Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as governor without their knowledge.
The Orba Modern Market Traders' Association, OMATTA, has accused the Enugu State government of allegedly falsefing the shareholdings of the market, set up by the World Bank and UNDP during the administration of Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as governor without their knowledge.
OMATTA stated that the ex-go error Sullivan Chime's administration had fraudulently and secretly altered the shareholdings of the Orba Market Development Company Ltd at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Abuja, stripping the traders of their shares without their knowledge.
According to OMATTA, the original share holdings of the market as supervised by the World Bank and UNDP were as follows: Traders - 40 percent; Enugu State government - 20 percent; old Isi- Uzo Local government, now Isi- Uzo and Udenu - 20 percent and Orbs Community - 20 percent, bringing the total shares to 100 percent.
However, it was alleged that under the Chime's administration, the government reportedly falsified the shareholdings by fraudulently awarding 50 percent shares to itself, 30 percent to Isi Uzo local Government, 20 percent to Orba Community and nothing to the traders.
Addressing newsmen at the Orba, the elected Chairman of the traders' association, Mr Brendan Ugwu, said that the traders had previously petitioned both the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice over the matter, without tangible results.
In their separate letters titled, "Re: Blatant Rape of the Constitutional Rights Of The Members of Orba Modern Market Traders Association, OMATTA," they to top officials of the state government, the traders also alleged that the government had also, meddled into the affairs of the union by sacking the elected leaders and imposed a care- taker committee on them, despite rulings by courts of competent jurisdictions at Obollo Afor.
"Our association is a part owner/ shareholder of the Orba Modern Market Development Company Ltd, a holding company floated by the Enugu State government, Udenu Local Government, Orba Community and Orba Market Modern Market Traders Association to manage the SME Centre which was a project executed by the World Bank and UNDP in partnership with Enugu State government, Udenu Local Government, Orba Community and our association.
"The company, according to the Articles of Association, ought to be managed by 10 directors to be appointed by stakeholders with a general manager, who is to act as the Company Secretary and Chief According Officer of the company. Regrettably, since after the first tenure of Barrister Sullivan Chime's administration, the board had remained dissolved to date.
"The non-constitution of the board has led to anomalous situation In the management of the company... leading to actions by the Udenu local government which if left unchecked will lead to serious breach of peace and disturbance of public order in the market and environs..."
However, the former Chairman of Isi- Uzo local government, Chief James Ugwu, who was one of the signatories to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Orba Market Development Company on March 4, 1996, alongside the then state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Architect Chris Offor and Igwe J. Nwangwu, denied ever mutilating the articles of the association as recently noticed.
Ugwu, popularly known as Igwurube said, "Well, am not aware of any change in the document. It was signed on 3rd June 1996 without those mutilations. So those who got the Certified True Copy, CTC, and those who gave them should be held responsible for the mutilations."
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