THE people of Saniko community in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, have impeached its President General, Engr. Vote Iboyi, over allegations of fraud, embezzlement of community funds well over N1.7 million, high handedness and gross misconduct.
It was learned that the impeachment of Engr Iboyi was as a result of his alleged refusal to explain why he had not called any meetings or held the annual community conference to account for his leadership since taking office in 2021. The decision was taken during a meeting where the elders and leaders of the community questioned his style of stewardship.
According to a source, “Dissatisfied with his explanation and plea for more time to repay the community funds, another a follow-up meeting was convened on Tuesday 1st October 2024 at the community town hall. At this meeting, the community elders, leaders, youths, and women unanimously voted to impeach and remove Iboyi as the community president. “He was replaced by his Vice President, Mr. Anthony Obiunu, who will serve as Acting President.
Prominent community leaders who endorsed the motion for Iboyi’s impeachment included Hon. Roland Oyibo Esq, Chief Mathew Ogheneovo, Mathew Onyeme, Shell German, David Okpukpuru (Youth President), and Charles Ikeneghe (Community Secretary). Additional support came from Akpubi Richard, Owin Iboyi, Emomejere Onovaye, Onovughe Irerhievwie, Otueshareamre Amuanamwa, Vero Esakpome (Women’s Leader), and others.
Community leaders outlined several offences committed by Engr. Iboyi, including his failure to call an annual community conference since December 9, 2021, as required by the community’s constitution.
He also failed to hold the mandatory monthly community meetings and was accused of unilaterally signing Freedom to Operate (FTO) agreements with contractors without consulting his executive team or community leaders, particularly the community secretary.
The community also alleged that, under Iboyi’s leadership, the community had not maintained a bank account and did not have any money to credit the community anywhere.
It was further alleged that Scholarship opportunities provided by Heritage Energy Oil Services Ltd, Umu-Gini Oil and NPDC, typically awarded based on exams, were reportedly distributed arbitrarily by the impeached president general without consultation or examination for qualified students.
“He equally singlehandedly signs Freedom To Operate (FTO) to contractors without the knowledge of his executive, and the community leaders, particularly the community Secretary whom he signed for. The money paid by these contractors is not accounted for, and he embezzles them, without consulting anyone and informing any leader, including his executive members.
“If he is writing any letters that are going outside the community, he writes them by himself, puts the name of the Secretary Mr Charles Ikeneghe and without his consent signs for both of them.
“Every year, Heritage Energy Oil Services Ltd and NPDC give our community scholarships both for secondary and university students, dates were normally announced for students to write qualifying exams at the community hall, after which the best students are selected and forwarded to the company, however, since Engr Iboyi took over leadership, he picks and chooses those he gives the scholarship slots to without any written exams or consulting the leaders or his executive.”
All correspondence should now be directed to the Acting President Mr. Anthony Obiunu and Secretary Charles Ikeneghe, pending when a new election will be held.
When contacted for his reaction to his impeachment, Engr Vote Iboyi said that his purported impeachment was illegal as those who carried out the actions don’t have such powers to remove him from office because they were not the ones who elected him into office in the first place.
