Government College leadership crises: Ex-Gov Nwodo-led FEDT defies Abia Assembly orders appoints new BoT members

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu On Jul 2, 2025

Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia

The crisis rocking Government College, Umuahia, Abia State over the running of the school by the Trustees of Fisher Educational Development Trust (FEDT) has taken another twist, following the appointment of new Trustees by the Dr. OkweIlieze Nwodo-led team in total defiance of Abia State House of Assembly order.

An old boy of the College, Mr. Chukwudi Onwudinati had petitioned the Abia House of Assembly against the high fees charged by FEDT among issues raised, which he said would not only deny children of the poor from attending the school, but was also against the vision of the founding fathers.

Following the petition, the House Committee on Public Petitions invited parties to the crisis and after hearing their submissions, urged them to maintain the status quo while they take a fair decision on the matter.

However, against the order of the House of Assembly, the Nwodo-led FEDT recently selected an 8-man team to replace them in running the affairs of the school.

Nwodo in a statement announcing the selection of a new FEDT team, said, “You may recall that towards the end of last year, we intimated you of the commencement of a transition process that will lead to the birthing of a new Board of Trustees to take over from the pioneer Board.

We are therefore delighted to announce to you the successful selection of a new team to lead the Trust into the future.”

Following the development, Onwudinanti’s counsel, Ugochukwu Zik drew the attention of the Speaker of Abia State of Assembly to a breach of the House’s directive by Dr. Nwodo and his team.

According to Zik, “In a letter by the ABHA dated June 4, 2025, the ABHA directed both the FEDT and Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) to stay action on the inauguration of new members of the trustees of the FEDT, with an express warning that disobedience to the order shall ‘attract severe penalties’.

“Regrettably, while the National
President of the GCUOBA issued a statement that the GCUOBA has
suspended its intended inauguration of the new FEDT trustees and shall
abide by the orders of the ABHA, the FEDT and its apologists in the USA and UK kept boasting that the ABHA is not a court of law that could stop her from inaugurating its new trustees. True to their words, the FEDT has just published an undated letter signed by Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo (FEDT Board
Chairman) announcing the selection of its new Board.

“This is the kind of lawlessness and brigandage that has characterized the operations of the FEDT these past years, which culminated to the
presentation of the petition by the Petitioner to the ABHA.”

In the face of these, the House of Assembly is insisting that parties should stay action awaiting the outcome of her decision.

A statement titled “Notice to Stay Action” and signed by Hon Uchenna Okoro Kalu, co-chairman of the House Joint Committee said, “The Joint Committee hereby mandate all the parties to stay action so as not to breach the peace of the state.”

While the Joint Committee assured all of a fair decision on the matter, it however cautioned that any disobedience to the notice, will be regarded as insubordination to the House and will attract severe penalities.