By Chuks Collins
The former President General (PG) of Obiofia community in Nnewichi-Nnewi, Anambra State, Chief Ibe Okonkwo Michael has commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for warning operatives against forum shopping in the prosecution of cases.
Chief Okonkwo who was speaking with journalists said that the IGP’s condemnation of the atrocious act was a welcomed development, noting that many innocent citizens have been clamped into detention and prisons for no just cause.
He noted that the bad eggs in the police were not interested in justice but only eager to line their pockets.
According to him, “I am really excited about the comments credited to the IGP, because I have suffered immensely in the hands of bad eggs among them.
But that once they are given money, nothing matters anymore. That their primary interest would be to make their victims go to prison or a prolonged detention.
He said, “I am a victim of what the IGP condemned inspite of my position as a popular community leader and I commend him for that. If I can be subjected to such humiliation on the grounds of flimsy petitions, then there may not be any hope for the common man.
“My appeal to the IGP is that he should back his words with action and ensure that there is stiff punishment for officers as well as their collaborators who embark on forum shopping just to get innocent persons jailed at all costs.
“My father won a case in Nnewi High Court in 2011, when the operatives went for the execution in 2013, my opponents said that they have appealed the judgement gotten by my father who has gone to be with the Lord. Interestingly, my opponents appeal was thrown out for lack of merit.
“Since then, my opponents in collaboration with certain bad eggs in the police force have not allowed me to have peace. They had moved from one level of police hierarchy to groups and or squad.
They hired many people to damage my reputation. In fact, they have dragged me to more than ten police units, divisions and squads but in all, I am always given clean bill.
Because whenever the superior officers look at my documents they throw the matter out.
“Infact, my opponents empowered a young man with a pump action gun to assassinate me, but unfortunately, he was arrested by the community vigilante, he was taken to Rapid Response Squad (RRS) interestingly, the gun was collected from the boy and he was granted bail the same day, inspite of the weight of the allegations against him.
“I actually told them at Awkuzu that Zone 13 Ukpo is already handing the matter, the next thing my opponents did was to write a petition to STC Abuja, what I saw in the few days I spent in Abuja really got me worried before men of good will intervened.
“I will not want to talk about the nitty gritty of the matter because the case is still in court but I must commend the IGP, if he backs up his words with action, then Nigerians can start dreaming of a brand new better police force that compete favourably with their peers in othe countries of the world”, the community leader asserted.
