"Enugu Community Igweship Conflict Escalates as ESUT Dismisses Contender Obiora Ngwu"

A chieftaincy dispute rocking Umuogbo-Agu Autonomous Community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State has taken a dramatic turn following a fresh revelation that one of the central figures in the dispute, Mr. Obiora Simon Ngwu, was allegedly sacked by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, for alleged admission scam far back in 2012.

The development comes after a document from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, confirmed that Ngwu, a former staff member, was dismissed from service over his involvement in a fake admission scandal.

The confirmation sighted by DAILY POST was contained in an official letter issued by the Office of the ESUT Registrar, Mr Ambrose Ugwu, dated January 26, 2026.

In the letter addressed to Charles Ugwu of Ugwu & Associates, the Registrar noted that the information was released in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the document, Ngwu was employed as a Library Assistant on Grade Level 4, Step 01, in the University Library on January 26, 1982.

However, his appointment was terminated with effect from September 13, 2012, following investigations that linked him to illegal admission practices.

The university stated that the scheme led to the unlawful admission of over 500 students, who were later expelled after the fraud was uncovered.

DAILY POST reports that the development comes amid an ongoing court case, in which one of the contenders to traditional rulers’ stool, Chief Sylvester Ali, accused some community leaders of forging the community’s constitution to manipulate the selection of a traditional ruler.

Ali, who claims he’s the traditional ruler-elect of Umuogbo-Agu autonomous community, having been duly nominated by his community, made the allegation in a sworn statement before the High Court of Enugu State sitting in Enugu-Ezike, in Suit No. EZ/10/2025, involving rival factions contesting the Igwe stool of the community.

The suit was instituted by Ichie Alphonsus Okoro and Ichie Simeon Okoro, who are representing Umuonoda-Eze Clan, against Ngwu and others.

In his deposition, Ali, a community leader from Umunasa quarter, said Umuogbo-Agu consists of four traditional quarters, Umuokpuye, Umuowaa, Umuaana, and Umunasa, which rotate leadership positions in line with an agreed constitution.

He alleged that the plaintiffs and some defendants, working with persons outside the community, produced a purported amended constitution without community approval, claiming the document altered key provisions, excluded some quarters from future leadership rotation, and contained the names and signatures of deceased persons.

“The document was never debated or ratified by the general assembly,” he stated.

Ali insisted that no valid Igwe election has taken place in the community, and that neither the 1st plaintiff nor the 1st defendant emerged through constitutionally recognised procedures.

He warned that any attempt to parade an Igwe-elect outside the laid-down process could destabilise the community. Ali urged the court to intervene, stating that failure to do so could lead to irreparable damage to the peace and constitutional order of Umuogbo-Agu.

Meanwhile, findings by DAILY POST showed that the case is still pending before the High Court.

In a chat with DAILY POST over the matter, Ali said everyone in his community accepted that he was the only person elected as the Igwe-elect.

He, however, accused some elements from the community who live abroad as those causing the crisis in Umuogbo-Agu.

“The provision of the Constitution says it is the turn of my quarter, Umunasa, to produce the next Igwe. I consulted my family. Almost everyone in Umunasa supported me.

“Thereafter, they presented me to the entire community. They all accepted. My clan also accepted. I didn’t have any challenger. Nobody contested against me from Umunasa. Nobody stood against me or said I wasn’t qualified. I was duly elected as the Igwe-elect of Umuogbagu autonomous community,” Ali said.

On how peace can return to the community, Ali said: “The community made presentations to Commissioner of Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, before some people in the community came up with forged constitution and started saying that they have been elected as the Igwe.

“And nobody elected them in our community. The commissioner told us he was going to do everything according to the gazetted copy of our community constitution in his office.

“At the end of the day, some persons claimed they have gotten a certificate of return and recognition from the commissioner Okey Ogbodo. I don’t know what they mean by that.”

Another community leader by the person of Mr Gilbert Ugwu also narrated about the genesis of the crisis in the community.

Ugwu also pointed accusing fingers at some persons from the community residing abroad.

He recounted how he was prevented from assuming the position as the Chairman of Umunasa Neighborhood Watch in the year 2020.

“I was presented as the Chairman of Umunasa Neighborhood Watch in 2020, but this same group of people, I choose to call them “urban gorillas”, said it can never happen because, according to them, he (Ugwu) wouldn’t be “loyal” to them.

“Many of them are living outside the State. Someone like Mike Olisaemeka Ugwunze,and Michael Ugwuanyi. These groups of people are the ones using Francis Omeh, Chinedu Eke, among others to destroy the community.”

Meanwhile, every effort made by DAILY POST to obtain reaction from Ngwu remained unsuccessful.

Several calls and text messages have been put across to him but he did not respond.

One of such text messages read: “Good morning. I reached out to you yesterday through calls and text message but no response yet. As I explained earlier, I’m a journalist with DAILY POST. We have a letter from ESUT confirming to a lawyer via FOI request that you were sacked from the institution. We seek to obtain your reaction to enable us balance our news report. Will appreciate a response from you. Thanks.”