Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested the Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA in the state, Dominic Ikpeama for allegedly selling the federal government’s palliatives meant for the people of Ejemekwuru autonomous community.
Ikpeama, it was gathered, was arrested by the Oguta Divisional headquarters following a petition against him by the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Hypolite Obinna Duru, who alleged that the politician sold twenty bags of corn and five bags of garri meant for the community.
The monarch said the action was a ploy to sabotage the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments to alleviate the sufferings of the people of his community.
Eze Duru, while speaking with an online news medium, said he alerted the police about the development which led to his arrest.
He described the action of the APC ward Chairman as improper, hinting that the entire community was not happy with him for diverting the items meant for them to his own selfish needs.
According to the Monarch, Ikpeama was arrested and detained on Wednesday, 21 August, 2024 at the Oguta Police Division.
Reacting to the allegation leveled against him, the APC ward Chairman while speaking with the online medium, denied the allegation, adding that he shared the palliatives to five villages instead of the 23 villages based on the quantity of the items.
Ikpeama denied being arrested by the police and maintained that he was rather invited by the police authorities who later asked him to go and reconcile the differences with his people.
The allegations of diverting palliatives have been rampant among those saddled with the responsibilities of distributing the items to the potential beneficiaries in most communities.
It was alleged that the APC ward Chairman took advantage of his previous position in the Town Union Government to corner the items.
Source: Daily Post
