By Mimi Chiadikaobi
The Anambra State Police Command has denied invasion of an Otuocha High court 2, Presided over by Hon. Justice R.O. Onunkwo, to arrest a defendant, Chief Ojukwu S. Samuel, saying that he was arrested outside the court hall.
In a swift reaction to the alleged invasion, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, (DSP), added that the defendant was an alleged ex-convict who is being looked for over arson charge.
‘”The suspect is allegedly an ex-convict who just came back from prison and a case of arson was reported against him. The suspect was arrested outside the court hall,” the PPRO stated.
Contacted, Ojukwu denied being an ex-convict adding that it was the same people (complainant), that connieved with the police to put fear in him over the same land issue.
“I was never a convict but detained by the same complainant who connieved with the police at ’33’ police Station, to put fear on me to distance myself from their aim to encroach on Ojukwu estate land which I am the chairman.
“To make it easy for them, I was labeled IPOB member and kidnapper, and detained in prison and released six months after. Since my release they started again to hunt for me.I refused to accept their offer because it will be at the detriment of the residents of the estate,” he disclosed further.
Reall that an Otuocha High court 2, Presided over by Hon. Justice R.O. Onunkwo, allegedly ordered Nigerian Bar Association, NBA branches in the area and Oniitsha, to ensure that a five man police team from ’33’ Police Station, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, that invaded his court and disrupted court proceedings in a bid to arrest a defendant, Ojukwu, were brought to book.
This according to him would curtail the excesses of some trigger-happy policemen and serve as deterrent to future offenders
Reacting to the invasion, an eye witness who identified himself as Barr. B. C. Udemezue, said that, “The drama started the moment Hon. Justice Onunkwo of High Court No. 2, finished proceedings in the criminal case involving the victim wherein it was reported to the judge that the complainant was repeatedly harassing and attacking the defendant, Ojukwu.
“The dendant said that the complainant has mastered the act of always using the police to arrest and rearrest him over the same dispute which borders principally on land issue.
“The judge threatened to remand the complainant when he could not give a reasonable explanation for incessantly arresting the defendant but later made an order that nobody should arrest the defendant again in the matter between him and the complainant until the court concludes the trial,” the eye witness stated.
He continued that, “Just few minutes after the court adjourned the case, the same complainant stepped out and called some policemen he came to court with and they moved to arrest the defendant.
“The resistance put up by the defendant attracted attention, and lawyers urged the police to obey the court order just made but they refused. The judge himself sent his own orderly to call the team leader but the team leader refused to answer the judge. When some lawyers confronted the police, they threatened to shoot them, two of the policemen cocked their rifles.
“It took the doggedness of the court security man, to wrestle the defendant from their hand and the defendant ran into the court with one handcuffed hand. This forced both the Administrative Judge. Hon. Justice H. O. Ozoh and Hon Justice Onunkwo to rise abruptly,” he stated.
Fumming and feeling the raid was a slight on the court and his person, Justice Onunkwo reportedly ordered the leadership of NBA to do something about the unfortunate incident, stating that it would not be swept under the carpet.
Reacting also, another witness, Chief Edugo John Nwabudu, stated that, “I was one of those who separated the fight. I don’t know police do arrest people in court. The policemen were planted outside the court fully armed and they parked their vehicle in front of the court .
“They tried to force Ojukwu inside their vehicle but he resisted them and was shouting that he didn’t commit any offence which attracted litigants, lawyers and the two courts’ judges rose abruptly. Justice Onunkwo made straight to his chamber and phoned the Commissioner of Police on what was happening.
“The policemen wanted to shoot the lawyers that joined to resist the arrest of Ojukwu, who is the chairman of Egwuatu Estate, because the case is about land. Imagine police involving themselves in land matter.
“Before this bid to arrest Ojukwu in court, police from zone 13 went to the said estate and destroyed charms in a house used as torture camp where illegal security operatives employed by the complainant were stationed, they sacked the owner of the house,” he explained further.
Reacting, the owner of the house, Mr. Ifesinachi Udemezue, said, they sacked and took possession of his house for all manners of illegalities even as chairman of Christ the King Amalgamated Estate, Mr. Kingsley, said the vigilante operatives were illegal.
Pic shows the defendant handcuffed in one hand inside court
