UMUAHIA – The President of Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) Honourable Chidi Aruoma, has dissociated the chamber from a group that styles itself Umuahia Chamber Movement, stating that the chamber does not have an affiliate or a branch in Umuahia or any part of the country.
Aruoma, in a statement in Umuahia on Thursday, warned the public, Abia State government, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry as well as investors and entrepreneurs to be wary of that group, even as he threatened to arrest the ring leaders if they continue to forge the chamber’s logo and letterhead papers for fraudulent activities.
It will be recalled that a group that calls itself “Umuahia Chamber Movement” had organized an exhibition in Umuahia last week Wednesday and invited some state government officials including some investors to an exhibition without the knowledge and permission of the chamber.
According to the UCCIMA President, no group has the right to associate the Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture with any affiliate body like the “Umuahia Chamber Movement” without the authorization of chamber, adding that “we will henceforth use legal actions on anyone or group of persons who is found parading his or herself with the name Umuahia Chamber of Commerce”.
The statement reads, “My attention has been drawn to an illegal and unauthorized gathering of some people in the name of Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) somewhere in Umuahia and associating our esteemed Chamber with the sobriquet “Umuahia Chamber Movement” and wish to state as follows:
“That no Meeting or Exhibition under the banner of Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) was authorized by me as the President of the Chamber.
“That UCCIMA does not have an affiliate by the name “Umuahia Chamber Movement” or whatever name called. That the purported meeting and Exhibition held somewhere in Umuahia on June 26, 2024 under signpost of “Umuahia Chamber Movement” were NOT from UCCIMA and therefore their outcome stands void.
“That the names of the attendees to the meeting and organizers of the Exhibition are not in the Chambers Register which is in my custody. No group can hold a meeting or organize an Exhibition under the ensign of UCCIMA without being first a member; that no group has the right to associate the Chamber with any affiliate association like the one above without the authorization of Chamber.
“That no one can claim to be a member of UCCIMA when he/she has not paid his dues as constitutionally provided or attends meetings of the Chamber for upward of three (3) years. The Constitution of UCCIMA is clear on that.
“That the purported Exhibitor ceased to be a member of the UCCIMA about Eleven years (11) ago and therefore has no mandate to organize any event of such using the name of UCCIMA or any coinage that tends to hoodwink the unsuspecting public into thinking that Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture has an affiliate body that organized an event”.
Meanwhile, UCCIMA President delving on the status of the convener of the meeting/exhibition, stated that the convener of the said movement has never attended any UCCIMA meeting, paid any annual dues or participated in any UCCIMA event in the last 12 years since he left office in 2012, saying that grounded the chamber, owing rents to the landlord and staff.
“The chamber was rescued by the immediate past President who officially registered UCCIMA in CAC and gave it a new status.
“That the name “Umuahia Chamber Movement” is alien to Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture because there is no such name in the official Register.
“That the general public particularly the Abia State Government, Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, organized private sector (OPS), Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Umuahia and environs including investors across Nigeria are hereby informed to be wary of this group that goes by the name of Umuahia Chamber Movement.
“There’s only one UCCIMA duly registered and operational with fully constituted executive.
“Any group of persons are free to register another Chamber of commerce in Corporate Affairs Commission and compete like the other newly registered and operational ones like Arochukwu Chamber of Commerce, Ohafia Chamber of Commerce, Abia North Chamber of Commerce.
“Note also that Enugu Chamber of Commerce gave birth to Ninth Mile Chamber of Commerce and Agwu Chamber of Commerce. In Ebonyi, we have Ebonyi Chamber of Commerce and the Salt City Chamber of Commerce. In Imo there is now, Mbaise Chamber of Commerce and also the Nkwere Chamber of Commerce.
“We will henceforth use legal actions on anyone or group of persons who are found parading themselves with the name Umuahia Chamber of Commerce.
“The use of Umuahia Chamber of Commerce registered logo by the said movement is fraudulent, let everyone be guided.
“The gentle strides of a Lion do not mean weakness”.