There is palpable tension in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State following the decision of the state government to sack the elected leadership of the Orba Modern Market Traders Association.

The development comes despite a subsisting High Court order restraining the government from taking such action, declaring it illegal and unconstitutional.

The modern market was built by a private company with a $60m loan (about N84bn) obtained from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme in 1996.

The project was designed to insulate the market from government control in order to promote trade and self-employment for traders.

The loan, which has been fully repaid by the traders, was facilitated by a former Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology and a native of the area, Prof. Julius Onah, who was then a consultant to the World Bank.

While the Orba community donated five hectares of fully developed land for the project, the Enugu State Government provided N8m as counterpart funding.

Before the latest development, an Enugu High Court sitting in Obollo Afor, presided over by Justice Comfort Chinyere Ani, had, in a judgment delivered on May 13, 2025, ruled that the state government lacked the power or authority to sack the elected leadership of the traders or set up a caretaker committee to administer the market.

The court also awarded N1m in damages against the state government over its action.

According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment obtained by PUNCH Online on Friday, Ben Okolo represented the Enugu State Government in the suit, while Obi K. Odo represented the traders.

Declaring the setting up of a caretaker committee as arbitrary, Justice Ani held: “In the final analysis, I hereby make the following orders: It is hereby declared that the leadership of the Orba Modern Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMMATA) remains with the elected executives headed by the plaintiff, Brendan Ugwu, as chairman,” having emerged on September 22, 2023, until the expiration of his four-year tenure.

“The Defendant, Enugu State Government, is hereby perpetually restrained by themselves, agents, privies or howsoever described, from interfering with or interjecting in the collection, management and control of OMMATA or howsoever usurp the offices/functions and rights of the plaintiffs.”

However, in a fresh twist, the State Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, in a statement dated June 25, 2026, announced the suspension of the Ugwu-led OMMATA executive over allegations of “unruly behaviour.”

The suspension letter, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Ifeanyi Onah, on behalf of the Commissioner, Ogbu Nwobodo, also announced the appointment of Hon. Edward Emeka Eze as the General Manager of OMMATA.

In a follow-up letter addressed to Ugwu and dated July 1, 2026, the newly appointed general manager ordered the ousted chairman to hand over all association properties, records and responsibilities to the caretaker committee.

The letter read In part, “I write with reference to the suspension of the Executive Committee of OMMATA, led by Brendan Ugwu, by the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Enugu State… over allegations of unlawful activities in Orie Orba International Market.

“Consequent upon the suspension and constitution of a caretaker committee by the ministry, you are hereby directed to immediately hand over all OMMATA properties, records, documents, financial books and records, and account details.”

Traders in the market have expressed concern that the government’s defiance of the court order could trigger a breakdown of law and order in the community.(The PUNCH)

Update news