A Human Right group, Taeun Ambassadors For Change, has written a protest letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun over the allege illegal arrest and disappearance of a middle aged man, Francis Ekene Ugbah following dispute over land in Ogwashi-Uku kingdom in Delta State.
According to the group, despite the questionable conduct of the Policemen who effected the arrest of the missing Francis Ekene Ugbah alongside innocent community leaders in November 2nd, 2023, the Police have refused to charge the case to court and not release him to his family.
The human right group, in a statement made available to newsmen, stated that Several Petitions have been submitted to the Delta State Police Command as well as AIG office, Zone 5 Benin-city, Edo State seeking their intervention to investigate and unravel the mysteries
surrounding the disappearance of Mr. Francis Ekene Ugbah but ” they claimed instructions from above scuttled the legal recourse.”
The group also claimed that the disappearance of Ugbah was allegedly masterminded by the killer squad founded and operated by the following individuals -Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, Prince Onyema Okonjo, Ogor Ozili Utomi, Jude Obidi, Daniel Ugbah, Gbenga Nkenchor and Mr. Obi.
“The above mentioned suspected individuals constituted themselves into the law that
arbitrarily and forcefully invade and dispossess land owners in Ogwashi-Uku kingdom in Delta State of their landed properties, thereby depriving them of rights of ownership with the ulterior motive to fraudulently sell the lands at exorbitant prices to unsuspecting members of the public.”
“And upon protests by the land owners of the illicit and criminal land grabbing spree akin
to Gestapo style by the alleged culprits, those that embarked on such legitimate
protests were violently attacked and wounded, and that is if they are lucky to escape the
murderous fangs of their killer squad.
“Following the atmosphere of terror and mortal fear that pervaded the entire community, concerned and eminent members of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom made representation to the police authority but alas some of them got arrested on trumped up charges orchestrated by the alleged offenders in active connivance with the Police.
“It is noteworthy to state that several cases of this nature are currently in different courts
where some of the community leaders were arrested and charged with frivolous murder
cases, and when the police are compelled to release them by legal means, the above
mentioned individuals especially Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Onyema Okonjo bragged that no justice could be brought to their rescue because the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu has been briefed to do their bidding at the instance of their elder sister, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to collaboratively work with other security agencies to halt and checkmate the process of diligent investigation and subsequent prosecution of the case.
“It was in the face of this lingering fracas that Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah was abducted on
the 2nd of November, 2023, and his possible whereabouts remain largely unknown till
date. And all spirited search efforts by the families of Mr. Francis Ekene Ugbah failed to secure his release.
“We are therefore by this write up, and in collaboration with other justice inclined
peoples organizations, demand as follows -:
that Malam Nuhu Ribadu, with his world-acclaimed status of integrity and
transparency, should immediately direct the police to initiate process of thorough
investigation into the disappearance of Mr Francis Ekene Ugbah which would serve as a
litmus test to establish his Innocence by refusing to allow people with shady characters
to drag his name into disrepute.
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“That the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of urgency direct full-fledged
investigation to discover the whereabouts of Mr. Francis Ekene Ugbah, whether dead or
alive. That one DIG Alabi who was alleged for the removal and stopping of the investigation
of AIG Zone 5 Benin-city should be removed from the police as a consequence for
brazenly perverting the course of justice.
“That Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and his brother Prince Onyema Okonjo should be
investigated, and if found guilty, be arrested and tried for multiple murder cases and
atrocities committed against the OGWASHI-UKU indigenes and non indigenes alike living
in the kingdom whose properties and means of livelihoods have been forcefully taken
over and sold by the Okonjos.”
“That the police should support the ongoing moves by the Delta State government to
bring succour to OGWASHI-UKU people following the institution of a panel of enquiry
and we ask that the final report of the panel be made public for the benefit of
OGWASHI-UKU people, and the Nigerians in general.”