AfriPulse
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has formally petitioned the Anambra State Government, calling for the immediate suspension and thorough investigation of the outgoing Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, over alleged involvement in an eleventh-hour N3 billion extortion scheme targeting traders.
The petition, dated April 1, 2026, was addressed to the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, citing constitutional provisions under Sections 7(1) and 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution and the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024.
Intersociety alleged that the outgoing council boss is involved in an extortion racketeering operation estimated at over N3 billion, affecting about 22,000 market stalls across Bridgehead Market, Ochanja Market and other markets within Onitsha South Local Government Area. According to the group, approximately 10,000 stalls are located at Bridgehead Market, while about 12,000 are in Ochanja Market and surrounding areas.
The group claimed that the alleged scheme has intensified in recent months through what it described as indiscriminate invasion of markets, imposition of multiple unlawful levies, and enforcement actions targeting traders. It alleged that taskforce members, backed by state security outfit operatives, storm markets in broad daylight, sometimes armed, alongside groups described as “Pestle and Machete Boys”, to enforce compliance.
Get real-time news updates, interviews and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
According to the petition, affected traders have had their shops sealed and marked “Sealed and Revoked”, allegedly as a means of intimidation and coercion to compel payment of various levies. The group further claimed that these levies extend from market stalls to loading and offloading points, with many payments allegedly made in cash without receipts or official documentation, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The petition highlighted specific cases, including the alleged imposition of a N50,000 charge per stall on traders accused of not opening their shops on Mondays. It stated that this was enforced under the pretext of ending the Monday sit-at-home practice. The group referenced a February 2026 incident where the council chairman and his taskforce allegedly threatened to shut down 5,000 stalls at Bridgehead Market unless traders paid N50,000 each, amounting to N250 million.
Another incident cited occurred on March 16, 2026, when officials of the Onitsha South Local Government and the state government reportedly sealed over 1,000 shops at Ogbogwu (Drug) Market for failing to open on Mondays. The affected traders were allegedly directed to pay N50,000 per stall before their shops could be reopened. The group further alleged that those who made payments were not issued receipts.
In one reported case, a trader with a serious health condition was allegedly made to wait seven days before gaining access to his shop, only for it to be resealed on the eighth day for non-payment, and later reopened on the ninth day after presenting a medical report.
Intersociety also raised concerns over what it described as a “hasty and eleventh-hour” Stallage Allocation Revalidation exercise, introduced through a notice dated March 11, 2026. The exercise reportedly requires traders to pay N12,000 per half stall as a “revalidation” fee, with payments allegedly made in cash without receipts. The group argued that this raises fears of misappropriation, especially as the current administration approaches its possible end in August 2026.
The petition further alleged the existence of an additional N40,000 fee for “missing or lost allocation papers”, describing it as a second layer of extortion. It estimated that the total amount targeted from the exercise, based on 22,000 stalls, could exceed N3 billion.
The group noted that the alleged exercise coincided with an ongoing enumeration and numbering of market stalls by the Anambra State Government/Local Government Joint Revenue Taskforce, describing the situation as duplicity intended to harass and extort traders. It added that, unlike the revalidation exercise, the enumeration process did not require any payment from traders.
Beyond the alleged extortion, Intersociety accused authorities of subjecting traders to multiple taxation and excessive financial burdens, including a reported 260 per cent increase in stallage fees—from N9,100 per half stall in 2023 to over N33,000 per half stall (N66,000 per full stall) by the end of 2025. It also claimed that up to 50 per cent of those who paid such fees were not issued receipts, with some payments dating back to 2023 still undocumented.
The petition outlined several demands, including the immediate suspension of the council chairman, the halt or cancellation of the ongoing revalidation and levy collections, and a comprehensive audit and recovery of all allegedly extorted funds. It also called for a legislative probe by the State House of Assembly into the activities of the Onitsha South Local Government.
Additionally, the group demanded a ban on what it described as indiscriminate market invasions, as well as an audit of stallage fee collections across all 21 local government areas in Anambra State.
The petition also raised environmental concerns, calling on authorities to direct the council leadership to clear refuse heaps along the Ogbogwu/Power Tools axis and the Old Benin Park area of the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, and to unblock drainage systems within the local government area.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Onitsha South Local Government authorities regarding the allegations.
Source: Sundiatapost.com | Read the Full Story…
