STRONG WARNING AND OFFICIAL COUNTER-PUBLICATION REFUTING FALSE CLAIMS BY JOSEPH OLORU TENUMAH IN FRESH ANGLE NEWSPAPER OF OCTOBER 9, 2025

STRONG WARNING AND OFFICIAL COUNTER-PUBLICATION REFUTING FALSE CLAIMS BY JOSEPH OLORU TENUMAH IN FRESH ANGLE NEWSPAPER OF OCTOBER 9, 2025 

REF: UGC/PR-002/10/2025 | DATE: October 10, 2025

The Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) issues this strong warning and official rebuttal to the false, misleading, and baseless claims made by one Joseph Oloru Tenumah, who in an interview published by Fresh Angle Newspaper on October 9, 2025, arrogantly and ignorantly paraded himself as the “Trust Chairman of Ugborodo Community.”

The UCMC categorically states that Joseph Tenumah’s so-called interview is a farce — devoid of truth, substance, or legitimacy — and an affront to the traditional and institutional order of Ugborodo Community.

The interview, purportedly conducted in a private room somewhere in Ugbuwangue, Warri Urban, rather than in Ugborodo town, is nothing but a shameful display of deception and a desperate attempt to confuse the public.

UCMC POSITION

1. The said interview does not represent Ugborodo’s tradition, hierarchy, or due process of leadership succession.

2. Tenumah’s claims of being Trust Chairman are false, unverified, and unsupported by any recognised authority, documentation, or community endorsement.

3. The interview’s location and manner — one man, one room, outside the community — clearly expose the illegitimacy and hidden motives behind this fraudulent claim.

4. The UCMC therefore warns the public, corporate bodies, and government institutions not to deal with, recognise, or transact with Joseph Tenumah or any person(s) claiming to represent Ugborodo under his fictitious “Trust.”

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

• We make bold to say that the Olaraja’s are not the head of the five kindred families; to educate and enlighten Mr Tenumah of his deficiency, the following are the heads of the five Kindred family according to their Hierarchy (Seniority) 1. Orori (Olaja-Orori), 2. Abome, 3. Oyen 4. Koromini 5. Eloko.

In retrospect the Olarajas are a mere ceremonial caretaker of the various sub communities and as such have minima or no role in the activities of the Ugborodo Traditional institution other than their floor membership of the Traditional council. In most cases by birth some of these Olaraja’s especially those who are Indigenes of Ugborodo by which means they can trace their Council membership to any of the 5 kindred families as ordinary members of the family, Any indigene of the community can be ordained as Olaraja once attained the ripe age of being the most elderly in the community, comparatively not every indigene can be coronated with the titles of the 5 kindred families, therefore by virtue of his poor disposition and crass exhibition of ignorance in that interview, it further buttress our position that he Tenumah is not fit nor competent to lead Ugborodo community nor any of the sub communities as either management committee or caretaker committee Chairman.

• Ugborodo presently has two secondary schools — Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben and Ikpere Secondary School, Ode-Ugborodo — not one as ignorantly claimed by Mr. Tenumah.

• The community also boasts of five functional health centres, two cottage, and one general hospital, not the single health facility he alleged.

• Records show that Joseph Tenumah has not resided in Ugborodo for over 15 years and last visited briefly years ago when the Olu of Warri was hosted in Ugborodo community by the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo. How can one lead a community he abandoned?

ON THE AJUDAIBO MEETING & COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION ON THE 9TH OF OCTOBER 2025:

The AJUDAIBO gathering and peaceful community procession were lawful actions aimed at safeguarding Ugborodo against unidentified military personnel allegedly brought in by external actors to destabilize the community. Given the presence of official military formations (both Naval and Army) and a Divisional Police Headquarters in the Community, UCMC acted within its rights to demand the immediate removal of illegal armed presence threatening community peace and security. We are aware that some of them are at it again with the view to meeting the commissioner of police Delta State to deploy armed police men to Ugborodo community for the protection of private property in the community, this in true sense is in disguise for the purpose of invading the community to legitimize their illegitimate trust constituted in Warri, We therefore call on the CP Delta State to be cautious of their plans, as Ugborodo Community is peaceful and calm, the UCMC, Women Group and Youth Organization in totality will ensure the protection, of every life and properties in Ugborodo Federated Community, while ensuring a sustained synergy and partnership with all security (Military and Para military) agencies in our community.

ON DISRESPECT TO THE EGHARE-AJA & TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION:

The UCMC strongly condemns any attempt by Joseph Tenumah or his collaborators to ridicule or undermine the authority of the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo Federated Communities. Let it be made abundantly clear that the Eghare-Aaja and the Council of Elders remain the supreme traditional authorities in Ugborodo, and their decisions are final and binding on all indigenes. Any deliberate provocation or continued disregard for these institutions will attract decisive traditional sanctions in accordance with the customs of Ugborodo Community.

ON CHARACTER AND CONDUCT:

UCMC notes with serious concern the incoherent, unstable, and reckless remarks made by Mr. Tenumah during the interview — including his derogatory reference to indigenes of Ugborodo, which further exposes his moral bankruptcy and unfitness for leadership. We question the editorial ethics of Fresh Angle Newspaper in granting such a platform to an individual lacking credibility, composure, and factual grounding. The publication must now verify, retract, and publicly correct this misinformation.

DEMANDS OF THE UCMC:

1. To Joseph Oloru Tenumah: Produce verifiable evidence of your alleged appointment as Trust Chairman, including the list of registered trustees and executive members, or immediately retract and publicly apologise to the Eghare-Aja, Council of Elders, and the Ugborodo people.

2. To Cease and desist from further impersonation of community authority.

3. To Fresh Angle Newspaper: Publish a full retraction and correction acknowledging that UCMC disputes the said interview. Or provide equal editorial space for this rebuttal in your next publication. Disclose your verification process for Tenumah’s claims to maintain public trust. Failure to comply with the above will compel UCMC to take appropriate legal and community sanctioned actions to defend the integrity of Ugborodo Community.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Ugborodo’s challenges today are remnants of a small clique led by individuals like Pa Austin Oborogbeyi, a supposed legal practitioner who has derailed from the noble legal practice, Hon David Tonwe, and their associates, who have sought to monopolize power and resources for decades. Their continuous interference and repeated attempts to install cronies — including the recent illegal handover to Joseph Tenumah — will no longer be tolerated. The era of manipulation, greed, and recycled leadership is over.

FINAL WARNING

Let it be known to all — within and outside Ugborodo Community that: Any attempt to undermine the authority of the Eghare-Aja, Olaja-Orori, the Council of Elders, or the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC), shall be met with firm resistance and appropriate traditional and lawful sanctions. The UCMC remains resolute, united, and unshaken in its duty to protect Ugborodo’s peace, dignity, and heritage. No amount of propaganda, blackmail, or fabricated “diaspora Trust,” will distort the truth or derail the progress of our people.

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