Crisis At The Core: Ogwashi-uku Development Association Executives Drowning In Criminal Charges

Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State — The Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), once viewed as a platform for community development, has now become a source of national embarrassment. Virtually every top executive in the association is facing one form of serious criminal charge or another—shattering public trust and prompting urgent calls for government intervention.

#### Six-Month Prison Sentence for Cyberstalking

The latest scandal erupted just two weeks ago when ODA executive Frank Ohei was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Asaba. The conviction was for defamation and cyberstalking, committed via the ODA’s official WhatsApp group. Ohei was found guilty of using the platform to circulate malicious falsehoods, marking a disturbing misuse of what should have been a tool for community engagement.

#### Terrorism Charges Against Top Executives

In a separate and even more serious case, Elue Adigwe, the ODA’s Secretary General, and Barrister Francis Okolie, the association’s Legal Adviser, are currently facing terrorism and attempted murder charges, Both are accused of playing key roles in a violent and coordinated attack on the Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku. The case, which is being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Asaba, has shocked the community and further severed the ODA’s legitimacy.

#### Certificate Fraud and Corruption in Academia

Another senior executive, Dr. Jude Okocha, was recently removed from his role as Registrar of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, following allegations of certificate forgery and the sale of fake academic documents. Internal sources revealed that Okocha was also involved in attempting to reinstate Charles Nduka, a staff member previously dismissed in 2018 for his involvement in a similar scam. Okocha, who at the time was Deputy Registrar, allegedly helped cover up the scandal.

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#### Murder, Rape, and Armed Robbery Charges

Perhaps most troubling is the case of Emmanuel Nwani, another ODA executive, who is currently **out on bail while facing charges of murder, rape, and armed robbery at the Delta State High Court in Asaba. Nwani’s ongoing presence in the ODA’s leadership structure has incensed residents and added fuel to demands for the association’s immediate overhaul.

#### Additional Cases Add to the Shame

Compounding the crisis, Mr. Iloba Obata, a prominent member of the ODA WhatsApp group and staunch defender of the current leadership, is also **facing two murder charges**. His name now joins a growing list of individuals connected to the association whose reputations are buried under the weight of criminal prosecution.

#### Community Leaders Demand Action

The shocking string of criminal allegations has prompted loud and unified calls from community stakeholders for the Delta State Government to immediately suspend all recognition of the ODA. Many are demanding the appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee the association’s affairs until all criminal matters are resolved.

“These individuals are a disgrace,” said one respected elder. “They have turned a community platform into a criminal cartel. The government must intervene before more damage is done.”

#### False Claims of Representation

Many in Ogwashi-Uku are particularly outraged that the ODA, despite its internal rot, continues to present itself as the voice of the community. Residents argue that the association has repeatedly engaged in lies, propaganda, and smear campaigns—particularly against the Traditional Ruler of the Kingdom, all while hiding behind the false image of legitimacy.

#### A Crisis of Representation

With criminal cases mounting and public confidence in free fall, the once-respected ODA is now widely viewed as a disgraced organization unfit to represent anyone. Until its leadership is held accountable, the people of Ogwashi-Uku say they will not recognize the group or its claims of authority.

“Enough is enough,” said a youth leader in the community. “We won’t allow these people to speak for us. Not anymore.”