The Nigeria Police Force has been accused of refusing to release two men identified as Cheta Okolo and Onyeisi Isuzor, who are residents of Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, despite court judgment ordering their release.
According to Sahara Reporters, the duo were arrested by police, on June 22, 2020, acting on the orders of Nigerian billionaire and former senator, Ned Nwoko, who accused them of attacking a man called Nathaniel Bama.
They were allegedly detained unlawfully until July 7, 2020 when they were charged to court at Isele-Uku on charge no MI/22/2020, for the offences of conspiracy and attempted murder. The Nathaniel Bama, who Nwoko said was attacked by the duo, swore to an affidavit on the same day that they did not commit any crime against him and the DPP on August 4, 2020, advised that there was no prima facie case against Cheta and Onyeisi, and recommended their release from custody.
It was further learnt that on the DPP’s advice, the magistrate court on August 5, 2020 struck out the charges against Cheta and Onyeisi and ordered their release.
Instead of releasing the duo, they were allegedly transferred to the Force Criminal Investigative Department in Abuja on the orders of Nwoko, where they have been in custody for weeks.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Cheta Okolo and Onyeisi Isuzor’s ordeal began when they and other residents of Idumuje Ugboko opposed an alleged attempt to forcefully acquire 90 hectares of land from an area earmarked for all indigenes of the community.
Meanwhile, Idumuje Ugboko community had earlier accused Nwoko of using police and Ministry of Justice officials to dubiously harass, intimidate and lock up elders and sons of the town.
In a “Save Our Souls” petition submitted to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the residents accused Nwoko and the police of malicious destruction of their property, disobedience to the order of the court, assault occasioning harm, abuse of public office, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.