The traditional rulers of Idima Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Mike Okorie Ugbo, has petitioned Governor Alex Otti, over alleged conduct of his aides who he accused of abuse of their powers.
In an open letter, Eze Ugbo pleaded with Otti to call his aides, CSP Nkem Nwosu, Jones Nnanna Ike and Luke Onyeani Ukara to order to show that their actions did not have his approval.
He said four indigenes of Idima Abam Community were in detention after being arrested by policemen who came with some indigenes earlier expelled from the community, while fingering the governor’s aides.
The letter said: “As I write this open letter to you, four of my subjects are being detained by the Abia State Police Command, with the knowledge of your Chief Security Officer, CSP Nkem Nwosu, leaving the impression that the action is with your tacit acquiescence.”
The traditional rulers said on November 14, 2023, policemen “forcefully broke into the homes of Hon James Owoh (our immediate Past Councillor), my Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Mba Okorie and two others, including the President General of Abam Development Union (of 26 villages) (Abam Onyerubi), Hon. Mike Onwuchekwa.
“Again, they invaded us the following day, November 15, 2023, around 9pm, in the same Gestapo style, but were, this time, resisted by protesting naked women. It might interest you, Sir, to note that most of the victims of these brutal invasions were severally wounded.”
Eze Ugbo said the four people in detention were earlier arrested, but he secured their bail. arrested were.
“Your Excellency, I wish to put it on record that when these same people now being detained were arrested before, as the Eze Ogo of Idima Abam, I personally took them on bail, with the understanding that they will be produced anytime the Police needed their attention.
“There was no cause for this recent arrest other than that Jones Ike with Luke Ukara (your Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matter, using the vantage positions of the Public Offices they occupy in your Government, are not relenting.”
He said that efforts had been made to circumvent the FCID Abuja, which the Inspected General of Police (IGP) had directed to conduct investigation on the petitions that are causing crisis in the community.
Explainf encounters the community has had with Jones Nnanna Ike, he said: In 1997, as a young man, Jones Nnana Ike sought to become the Local Government Chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Council. He received the support of our Idima Community, who even elicited the support of one of our eminent sons to single handedly fund his election. He succeeded.
“Following the death of General Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998, and the subsequent dissolution of all Political Structures across the Country, Jones was arrested by the DPO Arochukwu, who was his then subordinate at the Security Council of the LGA and subsequently detained first at the Arochukwu and the State Police Headquarters in Umuahia. He was to be arraigned but was released following the interventions of eminent citizens of Abam.
“At a point, the community distanced itself from him. He thereafter opted to stay away from the community. Even the corpse of his late mother has been in the mortuary for close to two years now.”
The royal father pleaded with Gov Otti to call his sides to order before a complete break down of law and order in community.