The Inspector General of Police have been petitioned over alleged unlawful released of alleged murder suspect who the petitioners alleged murder one Emeka Onianwa, an indigene of Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state.
The petitioners alleged that the alleged prime suspect in the case, one Innocent Esewezie who they alleged murdered the deceased during the April, 11, 2015 governorship/House of Assembly elections was released from prison custody on order of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The petitioners alleged that the deceased was shot by the suspect at the residence of one Fred Ajudua.
The deceased who have been battling with life since the incident finally gave up the ghost on April 13 at UBTH where he was referred to for treatment from FMC, Asaba, it was learnt.
But Ajudua got an injunction from a Delta State High Court, sitting in Akwukwu-Igbo on Wednesday last week, restraining the police from arresting him and his wife, who is a lawmaker at the state House of Assembly and eleven others who are being charged for the alleged murder.
The alleged prime suspect in the case, Innocent Esewezie was however arrested by police from homicide department in force headquarters Abuja and arraigned on June 31 before a Chief Magistrate Court, Ibusa.
Subsequently, Chief Magistrate, Ferdinand Dike gave an order that the suspect, Esewezie be remanded in Ogwuashi-Uku Prisons until July 29 pending the advise from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
But before while the court await DPP advice on the case, Governor Okowa, it was learnt allegedly ordered the police to immediately set free the murder suspect.
We couldn’t independently verified this claims.
The charge sheet by the police in suit /No/MIB/48C/2015 signed by Mr. Bob College, a police officer had accused Esewezie in a five count-charge of conspiring to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Law Cap.C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State, 2006.
"Causing grievous bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law Cap.C21 Vol. Laws of Delta State, 2006.
“That you, Hon. Innocent Ezewenzie and others now at large in the same date and time at Umueze Camp area and in the house of Fred Ajudua in Ibusa, Delta State within the Ibusa Magisterial District sitting in Ibusa during the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly election unlawfully attacked one Ayo Okonkwo by hitting him with several objects including, cutlasses, walking sticks which caused him grievous harm as a result of which he was admitted in the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 335 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State, 2006.”
Giving a graphic details of the development, wife of the deceased, Maria Onianwa accused Governor Okowa of ordering the Delta state police command to set free the killing of her husband against the court orders of remanding the suspect in prison custody pending the DPP advise on the case.
"While Mr. Esewezie was arraigned and remanded in prison custody awaiting the July 29 day for DPP advise, with others still on the run, surprisingly, gentlemen of the press, we were informed some days ago that there were moves by top government functionaries including the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to effect the release of Esewezie.
"Behold, just on the 8th day of July, the said Esewezie was released from prison custody following an alleged directive from the state governor, Dr. Okowa without recourse to the order given by a court of competent jurisdiction. It was also revealed to us that the governor allegedly stated that he cannot be a governor and allow Esewezie who was his campaign coordinator for Oshimili North council area to be in custody.
She accused Pat Ajudua supervising casa of murder in the area saying; "It is a thing of regret that since the inception of the incumbent House of Assembly member, Mrs. Pat Ajidua, the area has noticed and recorded the killing of some persons. For record purposes, one Livy Ajufoh a vibrant grassroot politician was killed over fallout of the last April elections, also a cousin to my slain husband, and others also died in the circumstance."
Onianwa appealed to the media, human right groups and social activists to help carry the family's cry for justice to the doorstep of the authorities.
Meanwhile, youths from the 10 quarters of Ibusa and the leadership of Ibusa Community Development Union, (ICDU), an apex body of all indigenes of Ibusa at home and in Diaspora have also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr. Solomon Arase, urging him to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those found culpable in the case.
The youths alleged that the state police were bias in handling the case particularly with no arrest of suspects and allowing all those fingered in the incident to go scot free.
ICDU, specifically called on the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ezeoba (rtd), Chief Peter Okocha, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mrs. Akpan and the former adviser to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Nwanze Okidegbe, who are indigenes of Ibusa to intervene in the matter.
Spokesman of the body, worldwide, Patrick Agetue on behalf of the community expressed concern over the delay in bringing the culprits to book.
Agetue recalled that in 2007, 2011 and 2015 when the incumbent member representing the area princess, Pat Ajudua contested the House of Assembly election, the community witnessed wanton destruction of property, death of Livy Ajufo, Mavis Onyeka Achuzia and Chiazor Nwadei and recently Emeka Onianwa while some youths who sustained severe injuries melted on them by the thugs hired by some politicians are till date lying ill in the hospital.
Another petitioner, APGA candidate in the state Assembly election in the area, Tony Azuya also gave account of how the deceased was allegedly murdered in his petion entitled; "Re: The Gruesome Killing Of One Emeka Onianwa" addressed to the Inspector General of Police.
No comments:
Post a Comment