Anambra lawmaker indicts police, magistrate, Nnewi indigene of conspiracy in incarceration of woman, 2 kids

Raises alarm over a young man who disappeared while in police custody

The member representing Nnewi North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike, has accused some officers of the Nigeria Police, Magistrate Adaeze Eze of Nnewi Court Four and an unnamed Nnewi indigene of conspiracy to incarcerate a woman, Mrs. Ngozi Uba, her two children, as well as others.

Hon. Ike made the accusation in an official press release, entitled “Detention of Mrs. Ngozi Uba, her children and others: Member representing Nnewi North Constituency condemns the recent activities of Nigerian Police and some judiciary staff in Nnewi”, with file number ASHA/NNC/YS/001/076, and dated 10th October, 2024.

The statement was directed to the attention of the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Nkem Udeze.

Other recipients are the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Hon. Justice Onochie M. Anyachebelu, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, and the Honourable Attorney-General of Anambra State.

The rest are the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Anambra State, and the press, as well as human rights groups.

Mrs. Ngozi Uba

In the statement, Ike regretted how “men of the Nigerian Police Force in Nnewi and some staff of the judiciary”, particularly “Her Worship Adaeze Eze” colluded with the brother-in-law to Mrs. Uba to incarcerate the hapless woman.

Uba’s incarceration followed the remanding in prison custody last month of her two children over a family feud.

He noted that “Mrs. Ngozi Uba had openly accused her brother-in-law of all forms of molestation since she got married into the family”.

Ike stated: “It is with a heavy heart and concern for the safety of Nnewi North Constituency, that I wish to address the obvious severe measures deployed by the men of the Nigerian Police Force in Nnewi and some staff of the judiciary, to serve the personal interests of a few misguided elements at the peak of insecurity in Nnewi.

“It took intensive persuasion of spirited people yesterday, to address the situation of potential breakdown of law and order In Nnewi.

“It is with sadness that I make particular mention of the role of the Nigerian Police and Her Worship Adaeze Eze (the Magistrate serving in Nnewi court four) in the incarceration of Mrs. Ngozi Ubah, in a matter between her and her brother-in-law.

“Mrs. Ngozi Uba had openly accused her brother-in-law of all forms of molestation since she got married into the family.

“Nnewi was thrown into shock in a matter which is before the Inspector General of Police in Abuja, when the Nnewi Police Area Command charge the family feud to Magistrate Court 4 in Nnewi, before Her Worship Adaeze Eze and Mrs Ngozi Ubah whose two kids were earlier remanded in prison custody last month by her same brother-in-law.

“Their bail conditions are unrealistic and near criminal ball conditions,” he regretted.

Mr. Onyedika Uzoukwu

In another development, Ike also recounted how a young man, Onyedika Uzoukwu, was lured into the premises of Obi Uruagu by vigilante men and was instantly arrested by policemen from Nnewi Area Command.

He lamented that the young man cannot be accounted for as the Police could not tell the family the whereabouts of Mr. Uzoukwu.

He narrates further: “Still In the same Nnewi last Month, a young man named Onyedika Uzoukwu (Ananu Akamu) was lured into Obi Uruagu by men of vigilante services and was arrested by the men of Nigerian Police attached to Nnewi Police Area Command.

“We gathered that the Police allegedly handed the young man over to SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad), but what is shocking is that the young man is missing and the Police till date have failed to tell the family about what happened to Mr. Onyedika Uzoukwu.”

As one saddled with the constitutional responsibility of lawmaking, oversight and representation for Nnewi North Constituency Office, Ike, therefore made the following demands:

1. That the Chief Judge of Anambra State should swiftly look into the role of the Magistrate in Nnewi Court four and call her to order using the code of conduct of the Nigerian Judiciary.He further demanded for details of other Nnewi sons denied bail on bailable offences and ensure that they are granted ball.”Otherwise, my constituents have lost confidence in the Judiciary in Nnewi North LGA as the last hope of the common man.

   “This must be done swiftly to restore confidence in the judiciary and forestall the breakdown of law and order.,” he stated.

   2. That the Commissioner of Police should direct the men of the Nigerian Police Force in Nnewi to, as a matter of urgency and cogency, provide Mr. Onyedika Uzoukwu to the family.

   Failure to do that, he said, the police boss should take appropriate measures to ensure that justice is served on earring Police Officers.

Ike expressed deep sadness over the increased kidnapping of his constituents and asked the Police to open full scale investigation on kidnapping incidents in Nnewi and environs.

He also urged security operatives to develop a complete report on all those who were kidnapped since 2020 in Nnewi with the singular intention of fishing out those who abducted themselves.

Finally, he urged Governor Soludo to direct the appropriate authorities to act fast on the above subject matters and its corollaries for peace, security and order to be fully restored In Nnewi.

“My constituents will not hesitate to register their dismay if justice is not seen to be done,” he warned.

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