Abia State Governor T. A Orji’s son allegedly ordered the killing of his aide in a political gathering in the state on Saturday, February 15th 2014.
CKN Nigeria reports today:
Son to Governor T.A Orji of Abia State, Chinedu Orji aka “IKUKU” yesterday displayed another level of his usual unruly and criminal behavior at the Okpara square, Umauhia, venue of the official declaration of his father’s senatorial ambition ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“IKUKU”, the self acclaimed Governor of the state, who was angered by the utterance of his late PA over a minor issue, directed his police orderly to shoot the late aide. All efforts to save the victim did not yield any result as he lost blood profusely. The ugly development did not allow the event hold as planned as people took to their heels leaving the place deserted.
An eye witness at the venue who spoke under anonymity stated that he was shocked when the Governor’s son, Chinedu directed his orderly to shoot the late aide over a minor misunderstanding. He decried the humiliation Abians have been subjected to, by the actions of the Governor’s son, since his father took over the mantle of leadership. He called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the unlawful and unprofessional behaviour of the Governor’s son and his orderly respectively.
UPDATE AT 8:30pm February 17, 2014
This morning, February 17, 2014, ThisDay published what our original source has called a cover-up – READ CKN Nigeria’s Follow-up Story – Abia Govt Attempt To Cover Killing Of Aide By Governor’s Son. CKN Nigeria is owned by Chris Kehinde Nwandu, a print and broadcast journalist.
In ThisDay’s report which appears to be a reproduction of a press release by the Abia State Government claims that Chinedu Orji ‘escaped an assassination attempt’ in which the deceased, John Ndubuka was hit by one of four bullets which were shot at the event. The report attributes two of the bullets to the police who ”shot in the air” while the other two bullets, one of which hit Ndubuka in the neck was from an unknown source. Three people were reported to have been arrested in connection with the said attack.
The ThisDay report can be read HERE.
The Trent received the below email by 3.18 pm today, February 17, 2014 from Nnaji Obed Asiegbu, Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on e-Government and Strategy, reproduced unedited:
Subject: Attention please kindly pull down post on Abia, it’s damaging and costly
The tragic death of a relative of Abia State Governor, Mr.John Ndubuka, is said to be under investigation by the State Command of the Nigeria police.
Briefing Journalists over the incident at the government house, Umuahia, the state commissioner for information and Strategy, Dr Eze Chikamnayo,said the victim, Mr.Ndubuka was hit by a bullet that killed him from an unknown source while leaving the venue at the end of a successful civic reception organized by Ikwuano/Umuahia people for the governor on saturday.
Dr Chikamnayo said the event occurred after the governor, chief TA Orji had left the arena.
According to him, the identity of the assailant is not yet known but stated that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and assured that the police will get to the root of the matter. He further stated that the state government is on top of the security situation in the state and will not waiver from its responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.
END
My personal Footnote:
The deceased wasn’t a political appointee but a civil servant and a close relative to my Governor. The same compound for God sake and what the hell will make some disgruntled elements especially the Uzor Kalu’s sponsored Igbere TV page and other Uzor Kalu cronies think someone will take the life of his brother in his own village just on their way home from a civic reception organized by our people, the people of Ikwuano/Umuahia. I am shedding tears doing this and it’s really not appropriate. With dismay, I have stumbled upon some wicked individuals that had resorted to spreading lies on the internet instead of praying for the bereaved family and friends. People should stop playing politics with hate and propaganda with a soul lying down at the morgue. John Ndubuka was not just an ordinary friend to me but a very close ally and a brother. But let God be the judge and let the law hunt the killer of our dear brother.
We requested to know when the press briefing happened and 5 hours later, Nnaji is yet to revert with the time when the said press briefing held.
The Trent reached out to news reporters and journalists based in Umuahia and Abia State and none of them wanted to even speak on the matter. We were able to get a journalist to speak on the matter – after assuring him of his complete anonymity – and he said, “The man (Chinedu Orji) is so dangerous that many of us (journalists) here (in Abia State) cannot even whisper about him. There are so many crazy stuff going on here, Governor Orji and his son do such unimaginable things that if they are published, the father (Governor Theodore Orji) will be boothed out of office, in fact, the whole country will rise against them.”
