The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone-B, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over an alleged assault of a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, by a lawyer.
The group which carried out a protest Monday, blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for an hour.
The Coordinator, NANS Zone-B, Mr Ikechukwu Okorie led a handful students to also shut the office of the accused lawyer, Mr Albert Okwudinka located along the road during the demonstration.
Okorie, who handed copies of the petition to newsmen, said that the student, Miss Chioma Ifemeludike, was pushed down from a storey building on the orders of the lawyer.
“Ifemeludike, a 300 level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as tenant of an apartment at Big Brother Castle, Awka being managed by Okwudinka.
“Following the payment, she attempted to install the signal dish of her DSTV cable on June 15 at a vantage position where other tenants had mounted their but was prevented by the lawyer.
“The lawyer had given frivolous grounds that a separate request and payment be made before installation.
“At the persistence of Ifemeludike, Okwudinka threatened and affirmed that should she dare mount the platform, she would have to live to tell the story if she is fortunate to be alive.
“The lawyer after threatening her, ordered his staff and a security guard within the premises to push her down from a height of a storey-building,” part of the petition read.
Okorie noted that Ifemeludike suffered serious life threatening bodily injuries which did not attract the sympathy of Okwudinka who only showed pretentious remorse.
The Coordinator said that the lawyer ignored the call to show up at the B-division Police station, Awka, where the matter was first reported until it was transferred to Area Command.
Okorie appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General, Directorate of State Services (DSS), the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Nigerian Bar Association, among others to wade into the matter.
Also speaking, Ifemeludike, who is the National President of National Association of Nigerian Female Students, said the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.
“If I as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe.
“That is why we came out in large number to protest. We are saying to intimidation by landlords and lawyers.
Reacting however, Okwudinka described the allegation as “false”, noting that efforts were already on to resolve the matter at the Police station with her relatives.
According to him, I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike but only ordered that the DSTV signal dish which she installed be removed.
“She fell down while dragging the signal dish with the person I ordered to remove it,” he said.
The lawyer also said that Ifemeludike stated in the tenancy form filled that she was a already a graduate and an actress.
