Police Arraign Three Suspected Thugs Over Invasion On Senator Ayogu Eze’s Country Home

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Nigeria 2015 Election Saturday, March 7th, 2015

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu – The police on Friday arraigned three suspects, namely Ejike Ali, Ikenna Omeh and Ogbonna Raphael before a magistrate court sitting in Enugu over their alleged involvement in the recent invasion of the country home of Senator Ayogu Eze.

African Examiner reports that some suspected political hoodlums, had last Tuesday allegedly invaded Senator Eze’s residence at Umuida, Enugu Ezike, in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Three of the arrested suspected thugs were however, arraigned before His Worship A.C Mbah, who granted them bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Reacting to the development, Senator Eze, representing Enugu North Senatorial district at the National Assembly NASS ,expressed shock over the hurried arraignment of the suspects as well as the inclusion of his name as the complainant.

The senator, who is the chairman, House Committee on Works, reacted via a press statement he signed him self, which was made available to African Examiner in Enugu

The Law maker, urged the Enugu state police Commissioner, Adamu Mohammed, to ensure that justice is done in the matter by carrying out proper investigation.

The statement read in parts: “My attention has been drawn to a shoddy attempt by some desperate forces in Enugu to cover up a clear attempt by some mischievous individuals to commit murder and burn down my country home.

“Three days ago, l received a call from the village that the youths in the village had overpowered some miscreants who came to my country home in Umuida, Enugu Ezike to burn down my house.

“The youth arrested about four of them including a police man on illegal duty along with two vehicles they brought for the operation. Some of the hoodlums including their mastermind escaped”.

He added that,“Also recovered from them were the policemen’s gun, some locally made mortar bombs and some other incendiary substances which were all handed over to the police by the villagers.

“Reports from my gateman and those around indicated that they had clearly come to vandalize my house and burn it down and also to murder the occupants of the house.

“While the masterminds were still at large and were being hunted by the police the matter was hurriedly rushed to a magistrate court in Enugu today March 06, 2015 where the suspects were hurriedly set free on bail.

“Curiouser still was the funny information in the charge shit where I was listed as the complainant whereas the investigation officer never got in touch with me.

“Wondering why they would leave out the village youths who brought the complaint to list my name as the complaint I found out that the people handling the matter abandoned the complainants and listed my name so as to sidestep a major plank of their complaint which talks of arson.

“The charge of attempted arson and murder was cleverly and conveniently omitted from the charges preferred against the criminals.

“I’m therefore urging the commissioner of police who has been doing an excellent job since he took over the command in Enugu to ensure that this matter is properly investigated and all the culprits adequately punished”.

Earlier, in a four-count charge brought against the suspects by the prosecuting police officer, Mr. Peter Eze, ASP, he said they conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: threatening violence and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.

The charge further read “that you Ejike Ani, Ikenna Omeh and Ogbonna Raphael and others now at large exploded firearms with intent to intimidate and annoy Senator Ayogu Eze and Eya Paulinus in their dwelling houses and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 120 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. II Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004″.

They were equally accused of “conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by exploding loaded firearms and shouting that Senator Ayogu Eze is dead with intent to intimidate and annoy him”.

Meanwhile, the case was adjourned to March 25 for hearing.