Mmimi village in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state has been thrown into crisis following the alleged refusal of the former financial secretary of the village union, Mr Cyprian Okoye to submit the financial reports and other transaction documents to ‘new executives.’
As a result, elders of the village ordered for Mr Okoye to be brought in to the hall for questioning against his wish which ended up in police custody.
The village, it was learnt, had been in fracas over election of new executives since December 30th, 2019. While one group alleged that the election did not hold the other claimed that it was held under the presence of the Nawfia Executive Town Union.
News Echo gathered that the case has been reported to Nimo Divisional Police station, which has equally demanded that the document be brought to the station as well as the presence of the two parties to settle the scuffle amicably. However, both had not been able to meet as scheduled on two different occasions.
According to Mr Cyprian Okoye, “our tenure finished on December, 2019, we agreed to organize an election on 30th December. But that very day, the election ended in fracas. Later some group hijacked the office and started acting as executives.
“I told them I won’t hand over my position as financial secretary until election is conducted and someone wins. But they refused and kept acting on it until this very day. I have written a letter to them to stop piloting the affairs of the union because it does not exist. But it turned out to be fruitless”.
However, Ozor Ifeanyi Nkemka who identified himself as the chairman of Mmimi communal union alleged that election was held with him emerging as Chairman, stressing that “if anybody has issues with the election, the best thing to do is go to court rather than holding unto community property as if it belongs to him.”
Speaking to our reporter on phone, the traditional ruler of Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, who said he was aware of the crisis, disclosed that he took custody of the financial report documents after discovering embezzlement going on between the villages.
Igwe Nwankwo however emphasized that the manner in which the communal land funds have been going without proper accountability calls for more proactive action. While calling on all members to be remain peaceful until the right judgment is made.
