By Praise Chinecherem
The embattled chairman of Onitsha Bridgehead market, Anambra State, Hon. Chinedu Akweke has denied visiting Awka, the state capital, with about N3.8 million bribe on behalf of victims of the recent Onitsha drug, (Ogbogwu) chemical explosion, to get permission for the reconstruction of their destroyed shops.
The victims who allegedly contributed the money were said to have demanded from Akweke, refund of their money since he (Akweke) was turned back by top functionary he went to give the bribe on behalf of the victims.
In a swift reaction, Akweke denied the allegations levelled against him, insisting he never collected any money from the victims nor went to Awka to bribe and get permission on their behalf for reconstruction of their shops.
He vowed to arrest anybody accusing him of such bribery allegation.
He said, “It is not true that I collected the said amount from the victims as bribe to give to a top government functionary for permission to allow the victims to reconstruct their shops that were destroyed by the chemical inferno.
“Let the person who is accusing me prove it by identifying his name, I will arrest him to show proof how and who I gave the money. He has to show teller of the amount of money I paid and to whom the money was paid to.”
He accused some of his caretaker committee members of being behind the constant attacks, having refused to share the money generated in the market meant for projects, infrastructural development of the market.
A trader in the market, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu, who claimed his friends and relations were victims of the inferno, said the victims were only demanding for refund of their money since the chairman was turned back.
“All the victims are saying is to refund them their money since the chairman could not get in touch with the official he wanted to give the money to permit the victims to reconstruct their shops.
“Since the chairman came on board as chairman, Caretaker Committee of Bridgehead market, it has been crises here and there. The 11 out of 13-man caretaker committee of the market has since dissociated itself from the bribery allegation and collection of such money as bribe from the victims.
“The chairman became power drunk for about three months of the inauguration of the caretaker committee and took monopoly of all functions and duties of the committee, believing that the market is his inheritance,” Ucheagwu stated.
