The Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Uche Anya, has forcefully refuted circulating reports alleging his detention over a N417 million fraud investigation. In an exclusive clarification, Anya revealed he merely paid a routine courtesy visit to the new Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) resident commissioner, which lasted approximately two hours.
The embattled official attributed the controversy to a disgruntled former employee, Alex Ogbodo, whom he accused of orchestrating a smear campaign after being passed over for promotion. “This is the handiwork of a rejected civil servant with documented disciplinary issues,” Anya stated, detailing how Ogbodo had previously filed petitions against his predecessor. The ECTDA boss emphasized his agency’s limited mandate as a regulatory body rather than a contract-awarding institution, making large-scale financial malfeasance implausible.
Anya provided context about the ICPC office property under scrutiny, explaining it was among 500 properties receiving standard compliance verification letters as part of routine urban planning enforcement. During what he described as a “friendly conversation” with anti-graft officials, discussions reportedly centered on masterplan adherence rather than financial investigations.
The development authority chairman went further to defend his appointment of Arc. Emike Ikechukwu as Head of Development Control, presenting academic credentials and institutional history to justify the selection over Ogbodo. Documents reviewed show Ikechukwu holds advanced degrees and was seconded from the Ministry of Works over a decade ago, while Ogbodo allegedly faced multiple disciplinary actions under previous administrations.
ICPC is yet to issue any official statement regarding the alleged investigation.
