Awka Protest: Handiwork Of A Wanted Fugitive-Anambra Police Command

Anambra state Police Command has said that the recent protests in Awka, in which alleged corrupt practices were leveled against the state's Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Akin Fakorede, are the handiwork of a wanted fugitive, Ozo title holder, High Chief Jeff Nweke. 

The disclosure was made on Friday by the state Police Commissioner, CP Aderemi Adeoye, while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters, Awka. 

In statement released by the command spokesperson, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the Commissioner disclosed that Nweke, owner of Blue Shield Security Company, has been involved in series of criminal acts against both the state CID, the entire command and communities within and around Awka. 

According to the CP, Nweke has collaborated with the police in CPS and "B" Division in Awka for joint patrol operations around the metropolis, in the past, using his operatives who are usually armed with Pump Action Guns. However, the joint operation did not curtail the tide in cult related killings as expected until the command launched an all-out operation that resulted in the arrest of over 40 suspects. 

The CP explained that in the last three months, petitions flooded his office from several communities, all of which pointed accusing fingers at Nweke, alleging that he is using his company's operatives for land grabbing. Following the development, the command assigned the investigation to the DCP Fakorede with a view to getting to the root of the matter.

"In the last three months after my assumption of duty as Command CP, I have received several petitions from various communities in Anambra State accusing Ozo Jeff Nweke of using armed operatives of his Blue Shield Security Company for land grabbing. I referred all to State CID, Awka headed by DCP Akin Fakorede for investigation."

Investigations, the CP noted, indicted Nweke. Among others, he was indicted for using armed operatives of his security company to illegally acquire lands belonging to hapless land owners particularly in areas around Nibo, Enugwu Agidi, all of which have common boundaries with Awka, Nweke's community. 

"Investigation into the cases indicted him for using his armed operatives to seize lands belonging to individuals and communities including Nibo and Enugwu Agidi which shares boundaries with Awka where Ozo Jeff is from.

"On one occasion his operatives shot a Policeman from Delta Command and stole his pistol. He had accompanied his Principal to visit his property in one of the areas Ozo Jeff grabbed land. When CID Operatives who were already investigating the land grab case which is made a crime by laws of Anambra State responded to the scene, Blue Shield guards opened fire on the Team. They were however overwhelmed by the Police Team, disarmed, arrested and detained. They have been arraigned in court."

Following the incident, the CP gave a 24-hour ultimatum for Nweke and operatives of his security outfit to return the stolen Pistol or risk the closure of his company. In response, Nweke contacted a retired DIG, Celestine Okoye, who in turn, called the CP for a merting. 

During the meeting, the CP explained the rationale behind the ultimatum, insisting that the Pistols must be returned. The retired DIG was said to have called the CP back to his house in Awka later in the evening of the same day where he handed the pistol over to the CP. 

"I gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Blue Shield company for the recovery of the stolen Police Pistol or else we would close down the company. DIG Celestine Okoye (Rtd) a friend and associate of Ozo Jeff Nweke called me and I explained to him reason for the ultimatum. In the evening of that day, DIG Celestine Okoye called me to his house in Awka and handed over the stolen Pistol to me. I handed it to DC CID whom I called to accompany me as a witness since he was the one handling the investigation," the Commissioner said. 

Consequent upon the CP's approval of the land grabbing charges against Nweke, the latter reportedly rushed to Abuja, hoping to have the case taken over by the Force CID, all 'with a view to escaping justice'

"When I approved charge in the land grabbing case Ozo Jeff had with Nibo people, he rushed to Abuja in a bid to have the case taken over by Force CID with a view to escaping justice. DIG Force CID rather than taking over the case called for the duplicate Case File for a review in line with IGP’s policy on transfer of cases. At the end of the review this Command was directed by DIG Force CID to carry on with the investigation."

Meanwhile, Nweke and operatives of his company have been charged to court in three different cases. While one of the cases is at the Federal High Court, the other two are at the state High Court. However, despite being served with arraignment notices on all, he refused to appear in court. 

The CP explained that providing the background above became imperative given recent concerted attempts by Nweke to blackmail DCP Fakorede and the State CID, Awka, both of whom he is accusing of corruption. 

In one of the video clips he released, he alleging that one of the IPOs handling one of the cases, Inspector Monday, demanded for N20m bribe from him but accepted a N100,000 offer. The video clip is said to be a set up against the unwary police officer.

"In the early days of investigation when Ozo Jeff was invited for questioning he feigned serious illness. This made DC CID to direct the Inspector to go and record his statement in his office inorder not to stall investigation. The detective did not go alone. He was accompanied by a female detective. Still the suspect did not make any statement. Instead he promised to come to the CID the next day to do the needful. He handed a wad of notes to the detective which he said was to cover their transport costs. Inspr Monday even bowed to thank him in the video clip. That was not consistent with a person who demanded N20m bribe as claimed by the blackmailer.

"When the video failed to trend or win public sympathy to the crime suspect he resorted to hiring people for sponsored protests against the Command targeting DCP Akin Fakorede, Inspr Monday and the CID.

"SIB operatives monitored the motley hired crowd who took off for the protest to State CID Awka from the house of Ozo Jeff Nweke. They were issued with placards and banners prepared by this fugitive from justice."