The Abovwe family of Uduere in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has suspended their kinsman and incumbent chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Council, Chief (Barr) Jaro Omuvudu Egbo, from all family activities over a string of allegations.
The decision, reached at an emergency elders’ meeting held on May 12, 2025, at Abovwe Hall in Ekrabovwe Quarters, followed what the family described as gross misconduct, physical assault on elders, financial impropriety, and abuse of communal trust.
The extraordinary meeting brought together elders and representatives from the four family gates; Owhefe, Ogun, Odebor, and Erineyenre, culminating in a communique announcing the suspension of Chief Egbo until he “purges himself” of the allegations and makes amends.
“He remains suspended from participating in any family activity until he purges himself of his gross disrespect and disregard to the family elders whom he physically assaulted,” the signed statement read.
According to the communique, Chief Egbo allegedly assaulted elders in his compound on April 29, an act condemned as “a disgrace and affront to the institution of elderhood.”
The statement was jointly signed by Pa. David Oduorere (Owhefe), Pa. Emmanuel Arhern Erhueh (Ogun), Mr. Joseph Egoide (Odebor), and Pa. Emagboro (Erineyenre), underscoring a rare consensus across the family structure.
In addition to the physical altercation, Egbo faced serious accusations of financial misconduct and abuse of communal property. The elders claimed he unlawfully occupied 11 acres of family land after paying for only six.
They further alleged that he failed to deliver on an ₦8 million electrification project for the Abovwe Quarters, despite collecting funds for the purpose over three years ago. Another ₦8million, reportedly realised from the sale of family land in Akpuvanagha, was also said to have been diverted.
“He falsely obtained land from the family under the guise of building an Anglican church, only to sell it for personal gain,” the elders alleged. They also referenced financial assistance he received during a difficult period in Abuja, which remained unpaid.
The statement further accused Chief Egbo of attempting to usurp the family’s traditional hierarchy, including threats to sack the family chairman and intimidate the eldest family man.
“He has continuously intimidated and threatened to sack the family chairman when he is not the head of the family,” the elders said. “He even threatened to jail the eldest family man who countered him.”
At the time of filing this report, Chief Jaro Egbo was yet to issue a response to the allegations. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. However, a close associate of the embattled local government chairman dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.
“Corruption is fighting back,” he said. “The people fighting the Chairman are elders trying to subvert the community by-laws for personal gain. He refused to allow that, and now they’re throwing mud at him.”
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