Ogbogwu Market in Turmoil: Chairman Boasts of Govt Ties Amid Extortion Allegations
Ogbogwu market onitsha traders protesting against chairman of the market
By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
Traders at the Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market, popularly known as Ogbogwu, have revealed the reasons behind their protest last Friday, calling for the immediate removal of their market chairman, Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubuisi.
Speaking under the umbrella of the group Justice for Ogbogwu, the traders, during a press briefing in Onitsha, explained that they booed the chairman to draw the attention of the Anambra State Government and the general public to what they described as his unrelenting extortion and abuse of office.
Chief Ekezie Ugochukwu, one of the prominent voices in the group, stated that traders have lost confidence in Chukwuleta’s leadership.
According to him, “We are no longer comfortable with Mr. Chukwuleta’s style of leadership. That is why we formed this group to demand that he either changes his ways or resigns.”
Flanked by other members of the group, Ekezie further alleged that after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) completed a mop-up operation in the market, the traders resumed business only to be slapped with arbitrary fees, instead of receiving an apology or assistance.
“If you offer him sincere advice, he retaliates by using security operatives to intimidate you,”
“We demanded an account of the funds he’s been collecting from us, but he refused. He constantly complains that he’s sacrificing for the market, yet he won’t step down.”Ekezie claimed.
Ekezie called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately dissolve the current caretaker committee, accusing him of imposing illegal levies and extorting traders.
He urged the state government to conduct democratic elections for new market leadership after the November 8 gubernatorial election.
He further alleged, “Traders are defecting from APGA to APC because Chukwuleta keeps extorting us with impunity and boasts that Governor Soludo, his kinsman, and Chief Evarist Uba, the Special Adviser on Markets both from Isuofia are protecting him.”
Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Ozoemena said the protest erupted after Chukwuleta and his caretaker team began a shop-to-shop revenue drive, demanding ₦300,000 from each trader. According to him, they claimed the funds were to settle the Southeast Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, to stop the seizure of unregistered drugs.
“He told us point-blank that anyone who didn’t pay would have their shops searched, but if you paid, your shop would be exempted,”
“Despite over 70 traders already making payments to a designated Polaris Bank account, the traders revolted when he entered Mrs. Ogechukwu Ifejiofor’s shop, demanding proof of payment. When she asked for a search warrant, tensions flared and traders nearly mobbed him.”
Chukwuleta and his team reportedly abandoned the revenue drive and retreated to the office amid chants of “Ndubuisi thieves!”Ozoemena said.
Ozoemena further alleged that Chukwuleta colluded with NAFDAC officials to demand ₦700,000 from each trader before sealed shops could be reopened.
He also imposed a questionable security levy of ₦3,000 per trader for the months of February to April when the market was shut down contrary to the usual ₦300 monthly levy.
“Even though security personnel didn’t work during those three months because they were arrested and detained by the military,he still demanded the full amount,” he added.
He also claimed that traders were coerced into paying ₦50,000 per shop, totaling ₦25 million, for a transformer installation, with no clear breakdown or accountability.
Mr. Chibueze Ifejiofor, another trader and former caretaker committee member, claimed he resigned due to Chukwuleta’s alleged injustice and tyrannical behavior. “I’ve been in this market for over 36 years and was never accused of selling fake drugs. In fact, NAFDAC commended me after the mop-up exercise. How can he now label me a fake drug dealer?” he queried.
Mr. Benjamin Chukwumuanya also criticized NAFDAC for failing to hold market leadership accountable for the influx of fake drugs.
“Why didn’t they arrest Chukwuleta and his executives if fake drugs entered the market under their watch?” he added.
When contacted, Mr. Chukwuleta dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated.
He claimed that NAFDAC’s mop-up operation was market-wide and that penalties varied depending on what was found in each shop,some paying ₦700,000 or more.
“I bought a new transformer in January. Just as I completed the base and fencing, NAFDAC shut down the market. I never forced anyone to pay ₦25 million or ₦50,000 per shop. I convened a general meeting, presented the expenses, and everyone agreed the costs would be shared once business resumed,” he explained.
He clarified that security operatives only worked night shifts until NAFDAC dismissed them during the mop-up operation. When they were recalled, they began working day and night, prompting a temporary increase in security levies to ₦1,000 monthly from February to April.
Chukwuleta further alleged that the group causing unrest comprises individuals barred from the market for dealing in fake drugs and operating without valid shops.
“The only issue I have with them is that I refuse to allow the sale of fake drugs. That’s why they’re after me. They’ve even threatened my life and those of my executives. We’ve always reported such threats to security agencies.”he stated.
He denied claims that he boasted of his connection to Governor Soludo or Chief Evarist Uba.
“I’ve never mentioned Soludo in any meeting. I never conspired with NAFDAC to sell seized drugs.”he padded.
Describing the protest at Mrs. Ifejiofor’s shop, Chukwuleta said, “Her husband, Chibueze, had been inciting people to resist our inspections. When we tried to enter, she blocked us, and they incited the crowd to chant ‘Chukwuleta onye ori’ (Chukwuleta the thief). That’s how they also attacked NAFDAC during their visit, which led to the market’s shutdown.”
He accused Mr. Emmanuel Ozoemena of being jobless and using the protest as a means to incite traders and remove market leadership.
