Delta: Fresh Crisis Rocks UPU As Executive Committee Accuse Omene Of Fraud

***The allegations are false, UPU Youth Wing

Another round of crisis have started brewing within a faction of the Urhobo Progress Union,(UPU) as executive committee of the apex organization have allegedly accused its President General, Chief Joe Omene of  financial misappropriation.

Omene have been under intense pressure to resign his position or being expelled following series of allegations of corruption trailing his leadership.

The latest came from executives committee of UPU demanding explanation over allegations of cornering items including cars and souvenirs meant for the union.

UPU executive committee in a letter signed by Chief Austin Uloho, Deputy President General; Chief Albert Akpomudje, Secretary; Chief Mike Ederewhevbe, Treasurer; Chief R.E. Emecho, Financial Secretary; Chief Dafe Akpedeye SAN, Legal Adviser and four others, allegedly accused Omene of abuse of office as well as using the youth wing of the union to organize protests without the knowledge of the executives.

The letter which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday had also demanded that Chief Omene presents two of his bank accounts in the last one year to the executive.

According to the letter; “having been inundated with several newspaper publications alleging that the union executives were given huge sums of money for the election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Wild as the allegations are, it is robbing on the good names of executive members who were not privy to the alleged money given to the executive by the presidency.

“Executive members are however on the know that all monetary transaction with the Presidency were exclusively handled by the President General who reported to the executive that he was given the sum of N25million to enable the union organize a rally for the president which he also single handedly disbursed.

“Prior to the above, the PG also brought the sum of $100,000.00 which he said was sent to executive members and other organs of the union to mobilize them and assist in Mr. President’s (President Goodluck Jonathan) bid.

“Apart from the above sums, executive members are not privy to the sum of N1.2billion allegedly given to UPU executive by the Presidency.”

But reacting to the allegations President of the UPU youth wing, Mr. Igho Ovie who was also fingered in the alleged fraudulent activities of the PG said: “The allegations by the executives are all false as they are the ones selling Urhobo. Omene had made his wealth years before he emerged as UPU PG and there is no way he would indulge in such financial recklessness.”