Community uncovers alleged plot by Police hqtrs to stall murder case

By Anayo Okoli

Aba – Abiriba Community in Abia state, weekend alleged that it has uncovered a plot by the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, to stall the on-going prosecution of three persons, who alleged killed four persons in the community.

The leadership of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) made the allegation while speaking with journalists in Aba. They claimed “authoritative sources at the command headquarters in Umuahia, confirmed that the Force Headquarters had ordered the withdrawal of the case from the court”.

The president of the union, Chief Ndukwo Elezue, alleged  that “three suspects were arraigned on Wednesday, August  5, 2009 before an Umuahia Magistrate court, in connection with the murder.

ACIU and the entire community are disturbed by the (alleged) information that the Force Headquarters could issue such a directive for the withdrawal of the murder case. We are completely opposed to it”, Elezue said.

He wondered whose interest the police “are trying to protect in the matter.”

According to the charge sheet made available to newsmen, the accused persons are Ikechi Orji, alias Smally (m), Adile Iwola (m), and Kalu Dede (m).  The suspects and others now at large, were alleged to have conspired to kill the deceased, namely Ogba Obasi (m), Uchu Kalu(m), Alhaji Gambo (m) and Oyiridiya Kalu (f) on September 23, 2008 at Amogudu, Abiriba.

The ACIU president said that the remains of the deceased  were exhumed in the course of the police investigation, which result showed that they were shot.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, said that he was not aware of such a directive.