A pan-Igbo development and civilisation group, Congress of Alaigbo Development Foundation, has suspended 11 of its members for allegedly engaging in conducts aimed at undermining the ideals of the foundation.

Addressing a news conference in Enugu on Wednesday, the Chairman of  the Foundation, Prof Uzodinma Nwala, said the suspended members were given two weeks to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the Congress.

 Mr Nwala noted that “failure to do so and/or if found guilty of the offences for which they are being charged, they are liable for expulsion from the foundation.”

 He said some of those suspended included Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, a former Chairman of ADF Business Committee; Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, former Treasurer of the ADF and Bishop Obi Onubogu, former Chairman of the ADF BOT, Dr J. C. Chukwuokolo, former Chairman of the Enugu Chapter of ADF; Mr Max Ozoaka, former member of the ADF Legal Bureau and Abia Onyeike, former Acting Secretary of ADF.

 Mr Nwala also said that the officials were suspended for allegedly conducting elections  to seize the leadership of the ADF.

 According to him, they also refused to respect the intervention and advice of some of the elders of the ADF who had advised that election into the offices of the ADF should be held on April 11.

 “The day they carried out this sham selection at Enugu was the day the President of ADF, Emeritus Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, was hosting guests, including several ADF leaders at his home in Imo State in honour of his daughter’s traditional marriage.

 “The elders of ADF had ruled against any election on this date to show respect to Prof Nwala, who had meritoriously led the ADF for 10 years, as well as served the Nigerian and Igbo nation in worthy roles and initiatives most of his life. The elders had proposed the election to be held on April 11 but these men, in their bid to satisfy their personal interests and those of their sponsors, will not respect any limit.’’

 According to him, the suspended members refused to abide by the authority of the ADF Council and set up an illegal Election Committee without the authority of the council of the ADF whose constitutional right it is to organise election.

 Reacting to the suspension, former Acting Secretary, Abia Onyeike, said Prof. Nwala had no power to suspend any member of ADF.

“He is no longer the President of ADF. You can see from the document he circulated that he now claims to be the Chairman of ADF Congress but there is nothing like that in the ADF constitution.

“He wanted to remain in office for life before we decided to conduct the election of April 6. He was ADF president for 10 years and had dissolved all the offices by himself for elections to take place, so what is he complaining about? Our election was endorsed by the Board of Trustees after the Conflict Resolution Committee found him wanting, a vote of no confidence was passed in him by all members of the Working Committee elected with him in 2018. The Board of Trustees and the Elders Committee gave a go-ahead for the elections.’’

(NAN)