A group, the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo), a socio-cultural organization of young Igbo professionals, has written an Open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding the release of Chief Emeka Ozuomba, who has reportedly been in illegal detention in custody of the Nigerian Army since March 17, 2023.
The undated letter, which was signed by the National President of OCHIE Igbo, Dr. Chukwuma Ogugua Orji, indicated that Chief Ozumba hails from Ihube Community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the group, Ozumba, who is the President General of Ihube Community, was, on March 17, 2023, picked up by some military men in uniform at Pego Hotels Okigwe, where he lodged prior to the House Assembly election on March 18, 2023.
The group reported that the military men returned with him in their vehicle and took his belongings at the hotel and finally left to an unknown destination, which whereabouts they kept secret, putting his family in tension.
It was later revealed that Ozuomba was being held at Obinze barracks of the Nigerian Army in Imo State.
To date, the reason of his arrest is yet to be revealed to the public and the wife has been found shuttling between Enugu, his place of residence, and Imo State for his upkeep.
The group, therefore, wrote Tinubu to, first and foremost, reconnect Ozuomba to his family in the shortest possible time to douse frayed nerves.
It also expressed hope that the president will influence the release of the traditionally titled Chief to his family.
The letter, entitled “Request for the release of Chief Emeka Ozuomba, who has been illegally detained in military custody since March 17, 2023“, reads:
“We, the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo), a socio-cultural organization of young Igbo professionals write to bring to your knowledge of the illegal detention of Chief Emeka Ozumba, of Ihube Community in Okigwe LGA, Imo State, by the Nigerian Military since March 17, 2023.
Chief Ozumba, President General of Ihube and a renowned community leader was on March 17, 2023, picked up at about 23hours by some military men in uniform at Pego Hotels Okigwe, where he logged prior to the House Assembly election on March 18, 2023, at
Later, they military men returned with him in their vehicle and took his belongings at Pego Hotels Okigwe and finally left to unknown destination.
They kept his whereabouts a secret, thereby putting immense pressure and tension on Chief Emeka’s wife and the family.
It took the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians to find out that Emeka was being held at Obinze barracks of the Nigerian Army.
The family did instruct a lawyer, Watts Law Firm (Iyiakaimo Chambers), to write to the Commandant of Obinze Barracks on March 23, 2023.
The lawyer was told to return after a week, which he did.
But, the second visit yielded no result. Please find attached a copy of the letter.
Painfully, in search of her husband, Emeka’s wife abandoned his children at Enugu and relocated to Obinze barracks, where she spent two months to no avail.
We understand that Emeka has been taken to 82 Division, Enugu, where he has spent some months in custody.
We have elected to write to your esteemed and highly exalted office to seek means on how to reconnect Emeka to his family in the shortest possible time; bearing in mind that a peaceful resolution would foster great relationship and douse all frayed nerves.
Please, accept the assurance of our esteemed regards, while hoping that you will influence the release of Chief Emeka to his family.”
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