The Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Hon. Eugene Ekpelle, has been accused of assault by his former media aide, Minnie Ogadinma, following a dispute linked to a social media post about the condition of a secondary school in her community.
Ogadinma alleged that the council chairman directed his younger brother, Monday Cheta, to attack her for allegedly attempting to tarnish his image online.
According to her, the incident followed a video she posted highlighting the deteriorating state of Community Secondary School, Odioku. She said she visited the school last Thursday and observed that students lacked chairs and proper roofing.
“When I got there, I saw how bad the school was. They don’t have chairs, no roof over their head. So I made a video calling for help,” she said, adding that she tagged a social media influencer in the post, seeking intervention.
Ogadinma alleged that the chairman visited her residence on Sunday evening alongside his brother and others.
“They came down from the vehicle. When my mum tried to greet the chairman, he said your daughter wants to damage his image online. Then he asked his junior brother, Monday Cheta, that he should teach me a lesson,” she claimed.
She further alleged that Cheta forced his way into her compound, assaulted her and pushed her mother, who she said sustained injuries. She also claimed that a shovel was brought into the altercation and that neighbours intervened to prevent further escalation.
Ogadinma said she and her mother sustained injuries and disclosed that she was relieved of her duties as media aide the same Sunday.
However, the chairman has denied the allegations.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Dennis Ezeuwa Lot, the council described the claims as “false, malicious, and deliberately distorted,” insisting that the chairman neither assaulted nor directed anyone to assault Ogadinma.
The statement maintained that the chairman had visited her residence for a peaceful engagement and alleged that Ogadinma confronted him with insults. It further claimed that she sustained minor injuries after falling while being restrained by a passerby during a heated exchange.
“At no point did the Chairman engage in any physical confrontation,” the statement said, challenging those circulating the allegation to provide verifiable evidence.
The council also clarified that matters concerning Community Secondary School, Odiokwu fall under the jurisdiction of the Rivers State Government, not the local government authority, and urged the public to disregard what it described as attempts to stir political tension.
Reacting to the development, Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer Chetam Nwala condemned the alleged incident, describing it as “a serious disappointment from a public leader,” and called on security agencies to ensure justice is served.
Similarly, the Director of Pilex Centre for Civic Education, Courage Nsirimovu, said Ogadinma acted within her constitutional rights to monitor public projects in her community.
Also speaking, the Director of Relief International Africa, Green Isaac, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the council chairman, as well as a public apology and compensation for medical expenses and alleged displacement.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the matter.