Jaro Egbo, Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta State, is under fire following the controversial dismissal of the Ughelli Motor Parks Revenue Committee. According to information obtained by *SaharaReporters*, the move has been described as politically motivated and riddled with corruption allegations.
The former chairman of the dissolved committee, Gowon Egoide, accused Egbo of demanding monthly kickbacks of N400,000 and claimed that Egbo’s wife, Mrs. Vivian Egbo, received N1.2 million as a bribe. Egoide rejected the official explanation for the dissolution, calling it a smokescreen to hide personal animosity.
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The dissolution was announced last Friday in a statement released by the Secretary to the Local Government, Goodluck Unuavworho. The statement alleged that the committee had failed to maintain proper financial records. Alongside this, the Non-Market Revenue Committee, led by Jude Oharisi and Igho Oraka, was also disbanded for similar reasons.
Egbo instructed that all official documents, financial statements, and other materials be handed over to the council’s Head of Revenue.
In response, Egoide claimed that all dues had been properly paid and receipted, and that the real issue stemmed from his refusal to pay personal kickbacks demanded by Egbo. He said that, under pressure, he had transferred N400,000 to a Globus Bank account allegedly belonging to Egbo and also sent N1.2 million to a First Bank account operated under the name Viviaro Enterprises linked to Egbo’s wife as a gift for a cow during a housewarming event. Egoide insisted he has evidence of these payments.
He further alleged that the fallout was rooted in his refusal to support Egbo’s interference in a youth leadership selection process in the Uduere community. Egoide, who also chairs the Uduere community, claimed Egbo wanted him to help override a decision made by the community’s elders to impose a preferred candidate in a rotational leadership structure.
“I’ve risked my life politically for Egbo many times, but now he wants to use his office to impose his will on our community. I won’t allow it,” Egoide declared. He added that despite past loyalty, Egbo has shown no appreciation or respect, particularly towards Uduere elders.
Information gathered also reviewed two receipts that appear to confirm the N400,000 and N1.2 million transactions. Records from the Corporate Affairs Commission show that Viviaro Enterprises was registered on August 29, 2023, with its address listed as Movudu Egbo Drive, Ekredjebo Road, Ughelli. The business registration number is BN-7115543.
Egoide has called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to investigate Egbo’s conduct.
Several local government workers, speaking anonymously, supported claims that the committee’s dissolution was politically driven. They explained that Egbo had already placed his ally in the role of youth secretary for Abovwe quarter, and was now pushing to control the selection of the youth chairman, which was due to another quarter, Eyavbie. Egoide’s resistance to this plan reportedly led to his committee’s dismissal.
Efforts to reach Jaro Egbo for his response were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls or reply to messages at the time of filing this report.
