AWKA, Nigeria – Bonaventure Ezekwenna, has accused the Nigerian Police Force of compromise following the granting of bail to an alleged cult leader, Peter Chijioke Okaa, also known as Ikonso, by a Magistrate Court in Nnobi, Anambra State.
Okaa, who had been indicted by the Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for multiple plots to abduct and assassinate Ezekwenna, was granted bail despite the serious allegations against him.
Chijioke Okaa and several allegedly corrupt police operatives were accused of plotting to secretly abduct and assassinate Mr Ezekwenna, a business developer, during his visit to Anambra State in 2023.
According to NewsBand, Okaa, known for terrorising and destabilising communities in Anambra State, was arrested by the Nigeria Police on May 29, 2024, and detained at Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State.
He was granted administrative bail after one week in detention, with a date set for his arraignment.
Sources indicated that Chijioke has numerous connections within the police force, allowing him to avoid significant legal consequences.
Although he was scheduled for arraignment twice, he wasn’t brought before a Chief Magistrate Court in Nnobi until June 28, 2024.
To the surprise of key stakeholders, Chijioke Okaa was charged with publishing defamatory content against Bonaventure Ezekwenna, contrary to the earlier FCID investigation, which indicted him for multiple abduction and assassination attempts.
Other charges included threatening Ezekwenna’s life and providing false information to police officers at Zone 13 Ukpo.
During the arraignment, Chijioke Okaa pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His counsel, C.N. Ndife, applied for bail, which was not opposed by the complainant’s counsel, I.C. Udeh. The court subsequently granted Okaa bail in the sum of N100,000 and adjourned the case.
Mr Ezekwenna expressed his dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, alleging that the police had compromised the case.
“This is total disappointment, to say the least. How a petition of plots and multiple attempts to secretly abduct supported by FCID Headquarters investigation, the highest investigative arm of Nigeria Police Force and handed over to Zone 13 Ukpo to prosecute turns out to become mere 3 counts charges of publishing materials to defame, threat and intimidation and false information to police. This is amazing,” Ezekwenna told NewsBand.
He added, “Also mind you that this defendant suspect was granted bail by the same court. So he allegedly committed these offences when he was out on bail. And he was still given bail. It’s really amazing, if you know what I mean.”
Ezekwenna criticised the handling of the case by the Zone 13 Police Command Ukpo, describing it as “legal gymnastics” that should concern all Nigerians, especially those in Anambra State.
He lamented the plight of ordinary citizens who lack the resources to seek justice in what he described as a corrupt system.
He expressed alarm over the targeting of Diaspora Nigerians for abduction when they return home to invest, stating, “It’s alarming to me and to many Nigerians living in Diaspora, especially United States, Canada and Europe, that when we attempt to invest in Nigeria and when we are targeted for kidnapping by police officers’ death squad like it happened to me in Anambra State, and when we report such heinous crimes to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the head of Nigerian Police Force; and despite giving the police IPO all the extortions they demanded in order to investigate such heinous crimes properly, the same Nigeria Police Force will at the end proffer such a useless waterdown charges.”
Ezekwenna questioned how a criminal indicted for plotting to kidnap and assassinate could be allowed to evade justice, stating, “A hardcore criminal standing trial on criminal charges and on bail, plotted with rogue police officers at Zone 13 Police Command Ukpo to kidnap and assassinate me secretly and police is already corruptly trying to let them off the hook, to get away with attempted murder.”
He called for accountability among corrupt police officers conspiring with criminals, warning that such cover-ups would deter investment in the region.
Mr. Ezekwenna also revealed that his plans to invest in Anambra State and other southeastern states are currently on hold until regional leaders and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) address the issue of police complicity in criminal activities.
“My plans to invest heavily in Anambra and other states in Igboland, eastern Nigeria are on hold at the moment, until governments of eastern Nigeria decide to network upon the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to crackdown on police officers aiding and abetting criminals in the region,” he said.
“I have abundant intelligence on this topic (certain individuals responsible for insecurity in my hometown Nnobi and surrounding areas; and certain police officers covering up, aiding and abetting their criminal activities), and until the governors of states in Igboland handle this matter, no massive meaningful investment will come to this part of Nigeria. Period!”
