By Hassan Zaggi
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the alleged series of plots by some police officers at Zone 13 Ukpo, in connivance with one Mr. Peter Chijioke Okaa, to abduct a United States (US)-based Nigerian-American businessman, Bonaventure Ezekwenna (the petitioner).
The IGP gave the order following a petition written by Ezekwenna to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, on March 5, 2024.
The petitioner alleged that Mr. Peter Chijioke Okaa had conspired with some police officers at Zone 13 Ukpo to abduct him with the intent to assassinate him (Mr. Ezekwenna), in a criminal case the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG-FCID) is currently handling.
Ezekwenna alleged that trouble started in 2021 when Peter Chijioke Okaa violently took-over his land which he bought for N10 million at Nnobi, Anambra State.
The petitioner alleged that some police officers, who are collaborating with Mr. Chijioke Okaa in his land-grabbing activities tried several times to illegally arrest him through a ‘’fake” invitation letter, but he understood their intension, hence, refused to go to the station in Anambra.
It would be recalled that in December 2023, there were media reports that a veteran of the United States of American army, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, escaped assassination plot in Anambra State.
Part of the report had stated that “Mr. Ezekwenna, an indigene of Nnobi community in Idemili-South Local government area of Anambra State became a target when he arrived the state to testify at the Nnobi Chief Magistrate Court in Idemili-South local government area of Anambra state.”
Ezekwenna also alleged that the former Investigating Police Officer (IPO) handling his case collected N530,000 from him with the promise “to assist me do a petition to IGP, takeover the case file and suspects from the police at Zone 13 Ukpo and burst their secret plot to secretly abduct and assassinate me. After collecting the money (N530,000) from me, he took the case from Zone 13, but he failed to arrest the suspects, and had since engaged in very discreet cover-ups.”
Disturbed by the allegations, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Egbetokun on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, appointed CSP Peace Aneke, the new Police IPO to handle the case at the Force CID, Abuja, with a directive to thoroughly investigate all issues raised and bring the culprits to justice.
Reacting to the development, while speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ezekwenna expressed optimism that the case will be handled well.
He, however, said that he has absolute confidence that following the intervention of the IGP, the new IPO will put in his best to unravel the matter and bring it to an end.
“Based on the apparent insecurity situation I observed in Anambra State, and the developing incontrovertible highly confidential, very sensitive complex intelligence on those actually behind it, coupled with apparent lack of government support for investors from Diaspora who fall victim to crimes, my plans to invest heavily in Anambra State starting from my hometown will be on hold for now,” Ezekwenna said.
