- Local Chief Denies Claims, Makes Counter-Allegations
By Amos Aar
THE PRESIDENT General of Edumoga Youth Movement (EYM) in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State, Engr Geoffrey Owotikwu, has cried out to security agencies and other relevant authorities in the state to stop the third class of Edumoga District, Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema, whom he (Owotikwu) is accusing of trying to kill him for exposing his (Chief Ochechema) alleged criminal activities in the area.
Engr Owotikwu made the allegation against Chief Ochechema in a petition dated July 29, 2024, addressed to the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The petition, obtained by National Record last week, was also copied His Royal Highness (HRH), Och’Idoma V, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, the Senator Representing Benue South Senatorial District, Benue State Commissioner of Police, Benue State Human Rights Commission, Director of State Services (DSS) in Benue State, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benue State office.
But, in a swift reaction, Chief Ochechema not only denied the allegations, he also counter-accused Engr Owotikwu of lying against him.
The traditional ruler also accused Owotikwu of impersonation claiming that he is no longer EYM’s President General, while equally accusing him (Owotikwu) of alleged molestation, fraudulent activities in EYM account, extortion of monies from members of Edumoga community, among others.
Petition’s details
In his petition, Owotikwu accused Chief Ochechema of publicly threatening him for exposing his (Ochechema) alleged criminal activities in Edumoga District such as promotion of kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, division of the youth movement and corruption among others.
“Your Excellency Sir, I write to bring to your notice the activities of Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema in Edumoga land.
“As you would have been aware, sometimes in 2023, the rampage and persistent violence in Ugbokolo Council Ward of Edumoga District, including incessant killings, kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination, banditry, cultism and other social vices has [sic] placed the area under scrutiny by both the State and Federal Government FRN.
“In response, the Edumoga Youth Movement – EYM took proactive measures to assist the Government in eliminating these menace and this evil activities that has [sic] bedeviled our dear community for ages which we have been fighting effortlessly since August, 2023 till date to restore peace, stability, sanity, sanctity and security to Edumoga District.
“Our initiatives successfully dismantled the Cultist networks which we identified as the major root cause of these criminal activities. This was done by ensuring that all and sundry renounce cultism and swear an oath of non-involvement henceforth which has [sic] enabled us to significantly reduced insecurity in Ugbokolo Edumoga and surrounding areas. This enabled residents to enjoy relative peace as we celebrated the 2023 Christmas season and New Year 2024 celebration free from criminal activities along the Otukpo to Obollo high way and within the local communities of Edumoga District,” Engr Owotikwu stated in his petition, entitled: “Petition Against Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema – 3rd Class Chief Of Edumoga District, Okpokwu L.G.A On His Fraudulent Misrepresentations For Financial Gain And Toxic Power Struggle With Edumoga Youth Movement – EYM By Encouraging Cultism, Protecting Cultist And Other Anti-Social Vices In Edumoga District”:
He further narrated:
“Despite our progress, the efforts to cleanse Edumoga District are under threat from Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema. He has openly refused to support the initiative, stating that he will not participate in the Akpomudu Oath taking exercise as endorsed by Edumoga District which many Youths, Elders and other Chiefs has [sic] taken already including the District Head of Edumoga, Chief S. S. Abah – Ede the VI, to affirm their commitments [sic] to peace and restoration of sanctity and sanity to Edumoga District.
“His opposition undermines our efforts and emboldens criminal elements and activities to return to Edumoga District and beyond. He succeeded in causing division among the Youths and creates a faction of Edumoga Youths which he inaugurated in his house/palace on 01/06/2024 via a so called security meeting after which he started tagging us as a terrorist group and using his almighty power, connections and positions to drag our image to the mud saying that he will not rest until we go down six feet to the ground.
“He encourage every well-meaning Edumoga sons and daughters who has [sic] come of age to bring development to Edumoga District not to support us so that he can hijack the Edumoga Youth to use them for his political mission and financial gain since we have successfully dismantled the cultist network which he usually use in Edumoga District and beyond as he now claimed to be the most powerful person or individual in Edumoga District and that no one can dare him, not even the government can stand on his way/path.
“As Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema encourages the return of gangsters and cultist, [sic] Edumoga District now faces resurgence of violence and criminal activities. The recent incidents include:
“1. The murder of the BSCVG Ward Commander in Ingle Council Ward of Edumoga District in his resident/home town.
“2. Snatching of over ten (10) motorcycles along Benpoly gate to Olanyega
“3. The kidnapping of the Olago Clan Head Contestant in Okonobo Council Ward of Edumoga District along Otukpo – Enugu road.
“4. The assassination of the Ijachi of Effiom in Ojigo Council Ward of Edumoga in his home town.
“5. The kidnapping of the Benue State Polytechnic Rector, Ugbokolo and five staff members.
“These events and many others too numerous to be mentioned here illustrate the severe repercussions of his actions and other uncertainties yet to come if things are not brought under control.
“Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema has publicly vowed to retaliate against me for exposing his involvement in these activities, resulting in attempts on my life severally by his gang. I urgently appeal to the government and security agencies for protection for myself, my family and other dedicated Youth members as immediate intervention is crucial to prevent further chaos and restore peace, positivity, progress, sanctity and stability in Edumoga District.
“The Edumoga Youth Movement – EYM has resolved that the office of the 3rd class chief be either disbanded or called to order to ameliorate security, foster unity, collective peace, positivity, sanctity and promote development, which the current leadership of Benue State Government exemplifies in all ramifications.
“We stand ready to assist and participate in securing our dear district from any threats regardless of their position. Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema is hindering the progress of our community with his actions.
“We are prepared to collaborate with the developmental blueprints of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth lormen Alia to eradicate criminal activities, cultism, banditry and among others from our community as a whole and Benue State at large in order to allow real development to thrive in the state and beyond.
“In conclusion, we urgently call on the Benue State Government to take decisive action against Chief Ojoh Emmanuel Ochechema. His removal or appropriate disciplinary action is necessary to restore peace and security in Edumoga District.
“The government’s intervention will not only safeguard the efforts of the Edumoga Youth Movement – EYM alone in curbing this menace but also pave way for sustainable development, growth and harmony within our dear Edumoga Community in particular and by extension, Okpokwu L.G.A as a whole and Benue State at large.”
Chief Ochechema responds
When contacted via a phone call for his reaction to the allegations, Chief Ochechema dismissed the petition as very far from the truth.
“It is not true, very far from the truth. You know, as a person, you cannot write testimonial for yourself. The Edumoga people as a chiefdom can speak for me, his group, Edumoga Youth Movement, can also speak for me, the seven ward heads in Edumoga chiefdom can speak for me, the forty-three (43) clan heads can speak for me and the Edema president worldwide can equally speak for me,” Ochechema said.
On why he said Owotikwu was no longer president of EYM, Ochechema said: “First, previously, he was the acting president of that movement. So, when the issue of no more killing, no more armed robbery and no more kidnapping started from my palace, initially, they were doing what the good people of Edumoga asked them to do. But he, Geoffrey Owotikwu, came from a different direction, started intimidating people, extorting money from people, molesting people, especially Christians.
“He said oath taking was for people who were cultists to denounce, repent and join the society as good citizens. Owotikwu now led a group of some boys to a community, beat women and the elderly ones up, not even the cult issue any longer. After that, he would ask for fifty to hundred thousand from that community. I have enough evidence, both videos and pictures.
“As if that was not enough for him, he started beating pastors, wounding them, extorting money from them.”
Asked to provide the evidences to corroborate his claims, the 3rd class chief could not make available the videos which he said was due to a technical fault on the phone of someone who was to send it to him. He however provided a picture of an alleged innocent man on the ground along with others allegedly molested by Owotikwu and his boys.
“They said this thing should be strictly on cultists. I will not deny that part. But he was going after even reverend fathers, pastors, traditional rulers, innocent people. Anything you are doing, be looking at the constitution of this country, the rule of law. Do everything within the ambit of the law. I’m explaining that to them and that is why they are saying I’m supporting cultism. Do they want me to say if they see anybody, they should kill or injure the person? I cannot do that. I don’t have the authority to give such order. Mine is to make peace in the community
“Security Adviser to the Governor called me around 12pm midnight [sic], questioning me that am I the one that gave the order? I said no, their operation was limited to a certain level. When the group of pastors he had beaten, molested and wounded went to Och’Idoma, Och’Idoma summoned me too on that matter but I said I didn’t have a hand in it. In his explanation, there was a document he tendered, saying that the district head of Edumoga was the one who gave him approval to administer oath on anybody, any human being at all, which I personally said no, I will not give such approval,” Ochechema further stated.
Asked how Owotikwu committed the alleged fraudulent activities, and other counter-allegations against him, Ochechema responded: “The Edumoga Youth Movement has an account. In that account, there is a company [Dangote Coal Mines Ltd) that paid a stipend to them monthly. So, around 2022, he forged the signature of the president and treasurer and wrote an application for change of signatory which he succeeded without the knowledge of the association and the Exco.
“When the company brought the matter before me, I told those people that were in charge of that account that from the explanation I heard from them, I said they are not using the money for the purpose which they were supposed, and he that changed the signatory of the account without the knowledge of the youths, that he has done wrong but it shouldn’t bring problem between them. I decided not to have concern about their money, anything finance, because I am no longer a youth and I am not their member. But since this thing has started generating heat, from today on, I am going to monitor anything that has to do with that account.
“But since he has done that and the association is preparing to elect substantive officers to oversee the activities of the movement, as from January, 2023, none of them, either he himself and the new Exco which he formed without the knowledge of the association and the previous Exco, none of them should go to that account again. Let that money be coming in and remain like that till when the election is done and the substantive Exco takes over, they can now start operating that account.
“I’m explaining this to you to know that the petition he wrote against me is not true. He wrote it because I stopped him from having access to that account. We discovered late last year, that he went and withdrew seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000) despite all these explanations and the peace I made between them. When we discovered that he withdrew the N700,000 plus this issue of fight of stopping cultism again, it is them, the previous Exco that went and reported him to the [police] Area Command in Otukpa and they were looking for him to be arrested. But because of this accusation that is coming here and there, I told them that if they arrest him now, they will say it is because he is fighting cultists that they planned and arrested him.
“So, what we did was that we talked with the authority of Unity Bank that they should stop recognizing anybody at all from the association to make further withdrawals from the account. The youth now obtained a restriction order from the court, stopping further withdrawal from the account.
“So, he went and wrote to Unity Bank that if they did not approve the withdrawal, he was going to take legal action against them. So, he sued them at high court, Okpoga, claiming some huge amount of money for not allowing him to operate his account. It was then that I said since he had gone to that level, let the law take its course, that if they want to go on with the issue of forgery and impersonation, they should go on.
“So, we were on that and when he discovered that the police were after him because of that matter in the area command, he started calling prominent members of our community which they called me and I told them clearly that yes, I told the youths that if they want to go on with the matter, they should go on but not in a violent way. But they said we should be patient since the matter between him, the Unity Bank and the court cannot be concluded or judgement passed within four months, since the election of the EYM is coming up, I should talk to them to hold on which I did and they stopped the arrest.
“All these things, he is calling it threat. As a traditional ruler that is in charge of this chiefdom, anything that is not clear, anything that is not right, anything that is unjust, I will not support it.
“EDEMA national summoned a meeting just last month because he wanted to conduct his election separately as he rightly mentioned in that petition that I created the faction. I’m not their member and I’m not part of them. He is the one creating faction. That day, they disagreed with him conducting a separate election and the other groups conducting other elections; that since they are a body that regulates the activities of Edumoga, they are suggesting 14th of this month.”
Asked whether EDEMA regulates EYM’s activities, Ochechema said no. “They are a body that when there are issues to be resolved, they come in. It is even EDEMA that came to me with that suggestion. But I went to that meeting with other traditional rulers in conjunction with EDEMA. Then, he was asked to give two or three names from the group he claimed to belong and they asked the other group to also give some names like that. They said election should be zoned not separately so that there will be no longer faction. That is what they said.
“It is not that they regulate activities of the youths directly, it is because there are issues and they cannot resolve themselves. But EDEMA is superior. I heard that they have stakeholders across the 36 states. Maybe he came out to write this petition for me to withdraw from saying the truth, I don’t know. But there’s no amount of petition that will make me not to say the truth or discuss what is right with my subjects.
“As I’m talking to you, I have not threatened him before this time and I will never threaten him, I will never plan any evil against him because I am not going to achieve anything by doing so. When his activities became too much, there is one chairman of goat sellers in Ugbokolo market, he is the one that made me to call an emergency meeting of all the ward heads, the clan heads, the EDEMA which I have just mentioned, their president, and the seven traditional rulers.
“Before I made the pronouncement, I said it openly and I will never deny the fact that I said so; that since he didn’t listen to us and continued molesting people, beating up people, I will not fold my hands until he kills someone, the youth should do something about it. That was when they appointed another acting president. They are the ones that appointed, I told them I don’t have powers to appoint for them and if they are doing their election, I’m not going to be part of it.
“That chairman of goat sellers fought with one of his friends in a hotel just because of mere misunderstanding. So, the chairman’s friend went and reported to Edumoga Youth to make peace between them. At the end of the day, Owotikwu’s boys now said the chairman is guilty. Owotikwu selected 7 youth members and said that they should give him twelve (12) strokes of koboko into seven. Somebody who is not a criminal. He came with bloodstains all over his buttocks and leg.
“When I summoned a meeting within three days, they did not deny the fact that they did that to that man. Then, I said ah! This is inhuman! I can no longer tolerate this. That’s when all of us decided that he should step aside for another person to oversee the movement till election is conducted. Even the election he has told you that he is the only person who has picked the form so far to contest for president, let’s agree that you claim you are still the acting president, but you are the one selling the form, agreed. You are the only one that bought the form, agreed. My brother, how do you look at it? Is there any transparency there?
“Owotikwu is desperate. He doesn’t even have good intention for our people. What he is after is money. The one in the bank, we should allow him to be molesting people and extorting money from people. The reason of beating people beyond recognition is that when he does that to you and he asks your people to pay particular sums of money, they will run up and down and give him the money. That is his reason because if he just comes and say give me money, the people may not give. But when he molests you, beat you up to the point that you will be unconscious, your people may like to settle him so that they will take you to the hospital for you to survive”, Chief Ochechema alleged.
When contacted on phone to ascertain the status of Engr Owotikwu’s petition, the Secretary to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), Mr Lawrence Melladu, explained that the petition was submitted to the BLCA Special Adviser, Dr Dennis Akura, who in turn had passed it to the Bureau’s Permanent Secretary.
He said the petition would have to go round before the legal director would take it back to the adviser. “There are procedures. So, I know they will be processing it,” Melladu assured.
