Tony Okafor,Awka
The Nigerian Correctional Centre Anambra State, has denied the allegation that the proprietor of Best Aluminum, Chief Pius Nweke, is missing in its custody.
Nweke was convicted recently by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Awka, Anambra State on two counts charge marked FHC/AWK/CR/45/2020, brought against him by the Inspector General of Police, which relate to possession of firearms and of ammunition without a licence.
Some weeks ago, Nweke’s Abba community in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State alleged that they had a reasonable suspicion that Nweke must have missed in prison.
In a statement by the President General of Abba Town Union ( ATU) Ekwuagana Alexander, the community accused the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service Awka Correctional Centre, Mr. Chukwuemeka Patrick, of complicities in the travails of Nweke.
The community’s press statement read in part,”On Tuesday, 27th June 2023, a group of armed personnel led by the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service Awka Correctional Centre, Mr. Chukwuemeka Patrick purportedly acting on the instructions of the Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service whisked away Chief Pius Nweke (an Abba son and the holder of the title of Ikemba of Abba Town) from the Onitsha Correctional Centre where he is an inmate to a destination yet to be established.
“Preliminary inquiries suggest that Chief Pius Nweke may be on his way to Kuje Correctional Centre, FCT Abuja and the reason for this sudden movement is yet not clear.
“Since he was whisked away the members of the family of Chief Pius Nweke, his lawyers, friends and well-wishers have not been able to establish contact with him.
Reacting to the development on Tuesday, following an enquiry by one of our editors, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the
Nigerian Correctional Centre, Anambra State, Mr Phrank Kez, described the Abba community’s allegation as untrue.
The PRO said,” We don’t have any missing inmate. Who said he is missing? Most times, people insinuate; do you understand? But the thing that disturbs is that most times they know the right thing but they just want to buy sympathy by insinuation.
“He( Nweke is in our custody; he is not missing. Nobody has declared him missing. If he is missing you would have heard it all over the media. You would have been notified.
“He’s not missing. If he is missing they( Abba community) would have gone with placards. You would have seen them going on placards. Don’t they know the court that convicted him and sent him there( prison).
“He( Nweke) is the property of the court; they can go back to the court to tell the court that the person is missing.
Adding, Phrank said,”That was what they said about(Abba) Kyari sometime ago; that he’s missing; that he is no more. So, there’s nothing like. “
