Abakaliki—The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, secretariat in Ebonyi has been sealed by the state Police Command.

A NAN, correspondent who visited the secretariat Monday reported that mobile policemen were seen searching people found within the secretariat.

There had been a leadership tussle between the National President of the union, Mr. Kingsley Ogba, and the state Chairman, Mr. Leonard Nkah.

Mr Dipo Ayeni, the Commissioner of Police in the state, confirmed the deployment of mobile policemen in the area.

He said: “The decision to seal the secretariat is to forestall any breakdown of law and order and prevent thugs from hijacking the crisis.’’

Ogba later at a news conference announced the suspension of the state Working Committee of the union and  appointment of a seven-member Caretaker Committee, headed by Mr Simon Igwe.

He said the Secretary of the Organising Committee, Mr Samuel Nnaji, would act as secretary of the committee.

“The suspension of the Executive Committee became necessary due to continued acts of wilful diversion of the union’s check-off dues.

“Since November 2009, only N600,000 out of N36 million was remitted to the national secretariat by the executive.

“There are also outstanding arrears between 2007 and 2009 which amount to more than N20 million. The situation is simply unacceptable, because many states are emulating Ebonyi branch in the criminal act.

“The development has resulted in non-payment of salaries to staff of the national secretariat,” he added.

In his response, Nkah said Ogba lacked the constitutional right to suspend his executive.