….We have released detained Chief Security Officer —Police Zone 9 Spokesperson
By Pascal Ibe
In order to avert justice, the traditional ruler of Adakam village at Amumara in Ezinihite Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze O.B Nwokocha, have connived with the area Police Division Officer, Essiet Onuimo to hide three men who gang raped a minor at Obibi village in Adakam Amumara, Ezinihite Local Government Area of Imo State.
Speaking exclusively with he Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC)), its executive director, Okechukwu Nwangunma told crimefacts.news that the ugly incident happened in December 2023.
crimefacts.newsgathered that in December 2023, a minor was returning from a church program at Obibi village in Adakam Amumara, Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area, when three devil-may-care men forcefully took her to an uncompleted building, gangraped and defiled her.
This newspaper learnt that the case was reported at the Ezinihitte Mbaise Divisional Police Headquarters, by the Chief Security Officer Amumara Okechukwu Ikenna Inyama.
Account to Nwangunma, RULAAC tried to speak with the DPO to ensure that investigation of the serious crime was not compromised. The DPO and his team continued to dillydally and are yet to arrest the suspects till date.
The Beginning Of Compromise
Nwangunma said the suspects are young men working with one Chibuenyi Nwachukwu from the same Obibi village who is very close to the Traditional Ruler of Adakam, Eze O.B Nwokocha.
The Chief Security Officer informed RULAAC that Chibuenyi approached the mother of the defiled girl and was offered her money to drop the case.
On April 18, 2024, the Chief Security Officer Okechukwu Inyama called RULAAC and reported that he was attacked and assaulted, and his dress torn to shreds by armed men led by the same Chibuenyi Nwachukwu who accused him of reporting a case against his boys and accusing him of compounding felony. He dared him to report him to anywhere he wished to.
RULAAC advised him to report the case of assault to the Police Division. He did and Chibuenyi was invited. Chibuenyi reported accompanied by Eze Nwokocha of Adakam and after the traditional ruler spoke with the DPO privately in his office, Chibuenyi was allowed to go.
Efforts by RULAAC to reach the DPO on phone to let him know the need not to allow the traditional ruler influence his actions regarding serious crimes of defilement and assault were frustrated by the DPO who refused to take calls till date.
Nwangunma said based on the group’s inability to reach the DPO, and convinced that the influence of the traditional ruler was interfering with investigations and shielding Chibuenyi, RULAAC forwarded a copy of a petition regarding the defilement to the Commissioner of Police,Imo State who promised to look into the matter with urgency. The group also informed the CP about the assault and the behavior of the DPO.
Complainant Turned Suspect
On Wednesday, the Chief Security Officer reported that when he got to the Division, the DCO in the presence of the DPO was angrily questioning him for ‘petitioning’ them to the CP and threatened to deal with him for trying to makenthemnlose their jobs.
When the Chief Security Officer went back to the Division in response to summons by the DPO, which he thought was in furtherance of the investigation of the cases of defilement and assault, he was ordered into a vehicle by the DCO who told him that there was a signal from Zone 9 Umuahia to bring him.
Nwangunma lamented that it is very unfortunate that instead of ensuring professional and impartial investigation of cases of defilement and assault reported at his Division, a DPO would instead, compromise and instigate the suspect to write a counter petition against his accuser.
RULAAC director revealed that this same Chubuennyi still has a case of unlawful possession of firearms, threats, and assault pending at D3 State CID Owerri
Nwangunma stated that every time Chubuennyi is invited by the police, the traditional ruler of Adakam, Eze Nwokocha would accompany him and make sure the case is swept under.
RULAAC petitions AIG Zone 9
In a letter, RULAAC requested the Assistant Inspector General of police (AIG) Zone 9 not to allow the suspect – now turned complainat- to twist or manipulate cases against him in order to evade justice.
”We request the AIG to pay particularly attention to this case and order investigation of the conduct of the DPO Ezinihitte and his role in aiding suspects to pervert and evade justice.
”We request the AIG to kindly order the release of the counter accused, order an honest and professional investigation and ensure that justice is done.
”We understand the case is with the Crack Team, Zone 9. The IPO’s name is given as Kennedy.
We Have Released The Complainant —Zone 9 Spokesperson
When crimefacts.news contacted the spokesperson for Police Zone 9 Umuahia, DSP Bruno Iheanetu told our reporter that after thorough investigation on the matter, it was discovered that the first person (Chibuenyi Nwachukwu) who petitioned the matter to them, is a suspect in a defilement incident that happened in Ezinihite Mbaise.
Bruno told crimefacts.news that Chief Security Officer, Okechukwu Inyama, who was detained at police Zone 9 Umuahia, has been granted bail.
