Agunese Mmaku Community Alleges Plot To Impose Town Union PG

Tension is rising in Agunese Mmaku community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The community is alleging a plot to impose a town union president-general on them.

The Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs is at the centre of the allegation. The Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Chief Charles Egungbe, has been fingered.

According to community members, the alleged move is in disobedience to a court order. They have now called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene urgently.

The dispute started after a native, Chief Onuselogu Nevo Obasi, took the town union executive to court. He accused them of breaching the community’s constitution in their plan to conduct an election.

Obasi argued that the process being adopted is against the constitution. He warned that it could trigger a serious feud in the community.

He explained that Agunese Mmaku has a clear zoning arrangement. The position of town union PG is zoned to Ibitte Mmaku village. Within Ibitte, it rotates between two clans.

Some individuals, allegedly working with officials of the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, want to jettison that arrangement.

Obasi specifically accused the Commissioner of insisting that a former PG be returned. He said this is against the agreed sharing formula.

He further alleged that the favoured candidate, Mr Simeon Ogbonnaya Okike, is connected to top officials in the Ministry. According to him, Okike is an in-law to a director, Mr Ezillo, and a friend to Mrs Dike, both of the same Ministry.

The matter came up at the Awgu Magistrate Court on August 7, 2026. The case, Suit No. NWG/5M/2026, was presided over by His Worship, Ngozi Edith Agbo.

Those listed as defendants are Simon Okike, Norbert Okolo and Eusebius Okolo.

Through his counsel, C.N. Okoro, Esq., Obasi asked the court for an interim injunction. He prayed the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from any further arrangement, screening, sale of forms or conduct of election for the town union pending determination of the motion on notice.

The court heard the application. It was brought under Order 4(1) and (3) of the Magistrates’ Court Rules of Enugu State, 2024.

After listening to the plaintiff’s lawyer, the court granted the interim injunction. It restrained the defendants, their agents and privies from proceeding. The matter was adjourned to August 17, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Obasi said he is surprised that the Ministry is still pushing ahead with the election. According to him, the Commissioner was duly notified of the court order through his lawyer.

He also said the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice was served a pre-action notice on the matter.

“In flagrant disobedience to the court order, staff of the Ministry allegedly compromised the process by collecting bribes from the other faction and insisted on proceeding with the election,” Obasi alleged.

Obasi and his group are now appealing to Governor Peter Mbah. They want him to step in quickly to prevent a looming crisis in the community.

When contacted, Commissioner Charles Egungbe declined to respond immediately. He asked that our correspondent visit his office on Monday for a face-to-face discussion.

“There is no problem. I will talk to you on Monday when you come to the office, so that we can see eyeball to eyeball,” Egungbe said.