Biz man Raises Alarm over Unlawful Detention of His US-based Brother in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

A businessman, Engr Celestine Okafor has raised the alarm over unlawful arrest and detention of his younger brother, Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor in his home in Umuokpaeri village, Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state.

Okafor said the arrest might not be unconnected to crisis rocking the community over the Ozonkpu Enugwu-Ukwu society

He said the victim, a US based medical and health practitioner was arrested in what appeared as abduction shortly after his return to the village for the Christmas festivities.

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Okafor said: “Yesterday some group of policemen came to our compound and abducted my younger brother, Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor, Ofia Ogwu.

“The men said they were from Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Abuja and that they were in the compound to invite him for a talk with Deputy Commissioner in charge of State CID.

“Though they said it’s an invitation, but when my brother said he would honor the invitation when disposed, they insisted he must come with them immediately.

“I demanded for arrest warrant, since it’s no longer invitation, but they didn’t produce any. That’s how my brother slept in Police custody and we’ve have been here since yesterday.”

Asked what led to the brother’s arrest, Okafor said: “the body of traditional title holders, called Ozonkpu in Enugwu-Ukwu has had issues, resulting to some members of the group forming their own faction.

“My brother however remained in the original group where he acts as the spokesperson. Meanwhile, Ozonkpu Jude Ekwunife made allegations against the original group which my brother refuted on social media.

“The next thing we saw was petition against my brother to the Interpol, accusing him of cyber bullying. The Interpol reached my brother who told them he was in the US. He wrote to them and got an acknowledgement letter before returning home.

“He even had to extend his stay in Nigeria just to answer to the authorities, hoping they will get back to him as his letter stated. But instead, they came yesterday and arrested him.

“We see this as connivance with the police to illegally abduct our brother. Meanwhile, court had already ruled that they have broken away and cannot go by the name Ozo Enugwu-Ukwu Society.

“We are calling for justice and demanding to know what crime our brother committed to warrant this maltreatment. This is a US citizen resident in North Carolina for crying out loud.”

A copy of the petition against Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor, authored by Ozonkpu Jude Ekwunife’s lawyer as well as acknowledged copy of the detainee’s reply to the police was also sighted by newsmen.

When contacted, Police Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said he was yet to be officially briefed about this matter.

“Let me put things straight. Police does not abduct, we arrest. It is not true to say he was abducted, but you said they were unable to present arrest warrant.

“Meanwhile, I have not been officially briefed about this matter, but I know I have certain persons from Enugwu-Ukwu who are members of the same Ozonkpu society. I will reach out to them, and also ask the SCID to know about the matter,” he said.

On allegations that the matter was before the Interpol and should not have been interfered with, Ikenga said there are conditions where the police can interfere, especially if it is not the same allegation.

“What I’m saying is that the petition being investigated by the Interpol may not be same as the one being investigated by SCID, which led to this arrest,” he stated.