…Urges Obiano to Intervene
By Ikeugonna Eleke
ndigenes of Isuanocha Community in Awka North Local Government Area have expressed unhappiness over the continued detention of the immediate past President General of the community, Chief Anthony Onyeagolu, despite being absolved of allegation of murder.
The Indigenes of the community who spoke to Fides said that Onyeagolu who had been in detention in Abuja since January 2020 was ordered to be released by the police commissioner in charge of legal/prosecution, CP Austine Sanomi, but contrary to the order, Onyeagolu was brought back to Anambra, but kept in police custody.
Speaking to Fides, some Indigenes of the community who refused to disclose their identity for fear of the repercussions, called on the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to wade into the crisis rocking the community which stemmed from sale of community land.
‘As we speak to you, our former PG is still in detention, and this is the 6th month. Police in Abuja have investigated the missing of one Angus Okoye which was levelled against him and found that he was not even in town on the day Okoye was kidnapped and murdered, and they released him, but on getting to Anambra, they arrested him again and kept him in detention,’ they said.
A letter by the commissioner of police, legal/prosecution section of force criminal intelligence and investigation department, Austin Sanomi, presented by the indigenes, absolved Onyeagolu of Okoye’s murder, while ordering his release.
Part of the letter by CP Sanomi reads, “Onyeagolu in his statement stated that he was not in the community when the crime was committed.
“The alibi pleaded by Onyeagolu has been investigated and found to be true, while one Mr Paulinus admitted that Onyeagolu was with him in Onitsha on the day of the kidnap and murder of Onyeagolu”.
The commissioner said the murder could not be traced to Onyeagolu, and that the murder charge could therefore not be sustained.
The members of the community called for the immediate release of the former President General, while urging Obiano to quickly intervene.
An attempt by Fides to reach SP Haruna Mohammed, spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, on the reason for Onyeagolu’s continued detention failed as calls to his mobile line failed.
