Ahoada Council Chairman Accused of Fraud, Misappropriation of Funds, Criminal Complicity and Insubordination

Council Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi, has been accused by an indigene of the community, Hon. Bright Nelson, of fraud, misappropriation of funds, criminal complicity and insubordination to party disciplines.

The accusation came in form of a petition against the Council Chairman, Ikegbidi and presented on the floor of Rivers State House of Assembly, by Hon Ibiso Nwuche, Member representing Ahoada East Constituency II.

Bright, the petitioner was of the opinion that Ikegbidi was involved in flagrant looting of the council’s funds and also abuse of office, who even after being petitioned against on 24th, January 2012 by Bright of financial impropriety in the sum of N1, 220,488,575.20 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Million, Four Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Naira, Twenty Kobo) only.

He also said that issues of fraud in the amount of N19, 000, 000.00 (Nineteen Million Naira) had pitched the Executive Council Chairman and his Deputy Chairman, leading to impeachment of the Deputy Chairman.

Bright said in his petition that the Council in the year 2012 received an amount in excess of N2, 000, 000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) from the Federated Revenue Account, Excess Crude, IGR and that no single project could be identified to have been executed in the community.

He said that Ikegbidi within the same period of January to December of 2012 had however acquired private properties and assets to the tune of over N800, 000,000.00 (Eight Hundred Million Naira).

Nelson went further to elucidate thus-

a)      A N150, 000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) Housing Project at Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi’s Hometown Ihugbogo.

b)      South Point Hotel Ahoada acquired and being reconstructed.

c)      Housing Estates Projects along Civil Defense Road Ahoada.

d)     Mercedes Benz M-Class Series

e)      Range Rover Sports HSE

f)       Expanded Fish Farm Projects at Ihugbogo

g)      Etc

On the issue of complicity in Inter-party crisis and insecurity in Ahoada, Bright said that Ikegbidi have held meetings with Chief Felix Obua, with discussions centered on the court action against the Rivers State Chairman and Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He continued by saying that he has trusted information that Ikegbidi gave the sum of N1, 000, 000.00 (One Million Naira) to Chief Felix Obua in support of his court action against The Rivers State Executive of the PDP in Abuja.

Bright also accused Ikegbidi of giving his support at destabilising the PDP in Ahoada East by his recent sponsor of the imposition of Hon. Malvin C. Udo, a non- PDP member Councilor to ascend into the office of the Leader of the Council.

He called the Speaker’s attention to the fact which he said was verifiable, that the LGA has experienced increased activities of armed robberies, kidnappings and assignations from the year 2008 to date. This he said was attributed to complicity of Ikegbidi’s close contacts with criminal operation between Ahoada, Omoku and Elele resulting from his trade as a Native Doctor and Herbalist.

He cited the arrest of Mr. Nyenye Ehie, a notorious armed robber and kidnapping kingpin in the residence of Ikegbidi at Ihugbodo by the combined team of JTF in the year 2012, confirmed his complacency, according Bright. 

Bright Nelson in his prayer said-

a)      A probe/ investigation of Financial Misappropriation by Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi and his deputy.

b)      A probe/ investigation of Complicity of Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi in incidents of kidnapping and assassinations in Ahoada East Local Government Area.

c)      A probe/ investigation of the Complicity of Ahaoda East Legislative Council in the Financial Misappropriation of Council Funds.

d)     A probe/ investigation of Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi in the Complicity of the court Action against the State Chairman and Executive of the PDP.

e)      The suspension of the Council Chairman and his deputy if found wanting on any of the above counts.

f)       The dissolution of the Ahoada East Local Government Council Executive/ Legislators if complicit in the allegations of financial impropriety.

The Speaker of Rivers Assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Amachree handed over the petition to the House Standing Committee on Public Petition and Complaints for investigations and to report back to the House.