08/01/2026
RE: PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ETCHE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL DATED 8TH JANUARY, 2026
My attention has been drawn to a press release issued by the Chairman, Etche Local Government Council dated 8th January, 2026, and on different radio stations and wherein my purported removal from certain appointments was announced.
At the onset, I wish to state clearly that I fully recognize and respect the powers of an Appointor to withdraw or cancel an appointment where a valid and proper appointment exists.
However, I want to clarify that with respect to the appointments referenced in the press release, particularly my alleged appointment as a member of the Etche Local Government Committee on the Resolution of Chieftaincy Crisis in Etche Local Government Area and my alleged appointment as Secretary of the Joint Committee on Anti-Land Grabbing Committee between Etche and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas; no such valid appointment ever existed. What was described as an appointment was merely a pronouncement without any formal backing. There was no letter of appointment, no swearing-in ceremony, and no official documentation whatsoever to signify or validate such appointments. They were, at best, shadow appointments devoid of legal or administrative substance.
It is important to state that I am a legal practitioner of reputable standing, particularly in the area of human rights protection. Beyond the political rhetoric and conflicts between political interests in Etche, it is clear that the present development is rooted not in misconduct, but in political differences and long-standing personal grievances, which unfortunately culminated in the termination of non-existent appointments.
It has also become necessary to place on record that beneath the public narrative, particularly the allegation of “disrespect to constituted authority” as stated in the press release, lies a series of events which in fact precipitated the present situation.
These events are intertwined with long-standing political differences and conflicts between the political mentor of the Executive Chairman and my own political mentor, a matter which the Chairman has personally and repeatedly communicated to me.
Against this backdrop of facts, the Chairman at a point declared one Chief Elijah Okere wanted for reasons that were never properly verified. Several questionable steps were thereafter taken which resulted in the prolonged detention of the said Chief. Upon facing these acts of irascibility, rascality and unlawful process, Chief Elijah Okere sought the professional services of my office-Chioma Choko & Associates (LordChoko’s Bay), and through due process of law, his liberty was secured by my office, yesterday the 7th day of January, 2026. This was after several pressure was mounted on my office by the council not to represent the incarcerated elderly Chief. .
That upon the release of the said chief, the Chairman picked offence which re-validated his anger which already exists in him with regards to my political affiliation, of which he had spoken to me on several occasions to withdraw my political support from my mentor and give him my full support. GOD FORBID!
Additionally, it is relevant to highlight that the Executive Chairman had consistently refused to take or follow legal procedures and advice provided by me, even in matters that directly concern the management and welfare of the Council and the people of Etche whenever he beckons on me for such. This according to him amounts to disrespect to his government. For clarity sake, I shall carefully enlist what the chairman considers disrespect as follows:
1. When the Chairman received bags of rice from the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Sim Fubara, he sought my advice on the rightness or otherwise of such after his mentor had advised him rightly to return same; I advised him to follow the instructions of his political mentor and return all to the Governor, but he disregarded my advice and appropriated all to himself.
2. On another occasion, bags of rice meant for the people of Etche were diverted and distributed to members of his place of worship rather than to the Local Government Area which they were meant for, contrary to my advice after he equally sought my advise on same.
3. Similarly, against my honest advise to the Chairman to comply with the instructions of FCT Minister, funds provided to compensate individuals who assisted or incurred losses in the course of his election were withheld from such beneficiaries after I had severally impressed on him to release same, but he refused.
4. That against my advise, the Chairman also proceeded to purchase two tractors as against the three (3) he initially declared without due compliance to the Regulations on Public Procurement; purchasing them personally despite my counsel to observe legal procedures and consider financial prudence.
5. Furthermore, when the Chairman contemplated borrowing money for the Council early in his tenure, I advised that the Local Government existing allocation was sufficient and that taking such a loan would unnecessarily overburden the people of Etche but as “the man at the helm of affairs”, he ignored my advice and went on to borrow over Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira in the name of Etche Local Government Council.
6. That when it was time to purchase vehicles for the Council officials, I advised the Chairman to prioritize vehicles for the Council Secretary and other council appointees with key roles.The Chairman refused to heed this advice and instead went ahead to purchase, with Etche Local Government Council money, a Toyota Venza worth over Twenty-One Million Naira (₦21,000,000) for his younger brother Emeka, who has never been an Appointee of the Council and handed the car over to him in the Council Secretariat without a car to the council Secretary and majority of the Counselors, even till date .
7. I also advised him to purchase landed properties for every Councillor to support their work after a few of them had complained to me; however, the Chairman, with a clear display of detest, stated that he would not purchase properties for any Councillor loyal to Senator Allwell Onyesoh, and this is despite not disclosing the honest amount of same against my advise to him.
In all these instances, my advice was ignored, demonstrating that the actions taken against me are rooted not in misconduct, but in a pattern of the Chairman’s rejection of legal guidance, mismanagement of Council resources, and personal political biases. And the above are to him, what make a counsel disrespectful.
For the avoidance of doubt, these self-acclaimed appointments came with no pecuniary benefit to me. I was never paid a dime by the Council in respect of any of the said roles, notwithstanding the numerous services I rendered in good faith to the Etche Local Government Council.
Furthermore, I categorically state that I am not in possession of any property belonging to the Etche Local Government Council, whether pen, paper, or otherwise as claimed. I hereby challenge the Executive Chairman or any officer of the Council to prove otherwise.
To further illustrate the significance of my contributions and the disregard of the Council for professional service, the Council sought my intervention in respect of a judgment debt owed to a professional colleague of mine in the sum of Thirty Million Naira (₦30,000,000.00). Acting in the best interest of the people of Etche, I initiated and conducted arbitration discussions which persuaded my colleague to concede a substantial portion of the sum. As a result of my intervention, the debt was reduced to Twelve Million Naira (₦12,000,000.00) and duly paid to my colleague by the Chairman.
That despite this significant saving of council funds, the Council did not consider it fit to pay me even One kobo for my time, energy, logistics, or services rendered in that regard. I challenge the Chairman to provide evidence of any payment made by the Chairman to me with regards to those purported appointments.
The purported actions taken against me are unfounded and politically ill-conceived and motivated, arising from personal grievances rather than any misconduct or breach of duty on my part or disregard for constituted authority. These developments should be seen in the context of the Chairman’s repeated disregard for legal advice, mismanagement of Council resources, and ongoing personal and political biases.
Let me state that further public ridicule of my reputation by the Chairman or any of his aids, shall leave me with no other choice than to seek legal redress.
Thank you.
Chioma Choko Esq, LL.M, CTMA, CIArb. (UK)
0806 442 4561, 0808 922 2595, 07070375628
[email protected]
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