ENUGU, Nigeria — The communities of Opi and Ekwegbe in Enugu State have marched to the Government House to protest the continued detention of Mr. Onyekachi Ugwu, a lawyer, who has been held in Enugu Custodial Centre for over three months over alleged cyber-stalking and kidnapping charges.
Ugwu, counsel to Ekwegbe community in land matters, was initially arrested for alleged cyber-stalking against Dr. Dan Shere, the former Secretary to the State Government.
When Ugwu’s bail application was heard, Shere presented a new petition claiming Ugwu was involved in his kidnapping on October 27, 2022.
The protesters, who included Ugwu’s mother, Mrs. Monica Ugwu, and Chief Fidelis Nweze from the Ekwegbe community, are seeking the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah for Ugwu’s release.
The Governor’s office received the petition on Saturday, September 9, 2023.
In an emotional plea, Mrs. Ugwu said, “I have gone on my knees to beg Dr. Shere to please bring the matter home and allow us know what went wrong but he has ignored all my pleas.”
She insisted her son was not a kidnapper but was targeted because he offered legal services to the Ekwegbe community.
Chief Nweze explained that they had contracted Ugwu to help them secure over 2,000 plots of land at risk of being lost.
The land was initially given to Winners Chapel for a University Project. “We have lost the university because the church did not come again to develop the land as they promised,” said Nweze.
The community leader further revealed that Winners Chapel had not paid them for the land but made a “paltry” monetary commitment.
He called on Governor Mbah, whom he described as a “listening leader,” to ensure the release of their lawyer and protect their land.
Efforts to reach Dr. Dan Shere for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
This situation raises questions about the impartiality of law enforcement agencies and the justice system, especially when influential figures are involved.
It also highlights the vulnerability of local communities in land disputes and their need for legal representation.
