Ayo Ola
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, on Monday lampooned the Nigeria Police Force over the style it adopted in arresting Chief Uche Nwosu, who is a son-in-law to a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha.
The police had in a gastepo manner arrested Nwosu at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state during the outing/thanksgiving service of his late mother.
Nwosu had contested in the last governorship election in Imo State.
Olajengbesi, who is Managing Partner at Law Corridor, in a statement, said the police desecrated a place of worship and used Gestapo approach in arresting Nwosu.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force erred on the side of the law greatly.
His statement was titled, “Nigeria Police Force gestapo style arrest of Uche Nwosu is an embarrassment to Nigeria justice system.”
Olajengbesi said, “The Nigeria Police Force’s conduct in the forceful arrest and apprehension of Chief Uche Nwosu is shameful, unprofessional and smacks of obstinate hooliganism, and hereby stands strongly condemned. Their mode of arrest has all the markings of kidnappers and ‘unknown gunmen’, leaving more questions than answers in the struggle to unravel the latter menace.
“As a rule of operation, men of the Nigeria Police Force are not only required to properly identify themselves before effecting an arrest but must be backed by the force of law in the form of a warrant of arrest properly executed. In the arrest of Chief Uche Nwosu who interestingly is a former gubernatorial candidate in the state of his arrest, police officers dressed in muftis stormed the victim’s church where they reportedly shot sporadically scaring churchgoers and put lives and limbs in danger as many scrambled for safety. They are further captured in a series of images and videos manhandling their latest victim, Chief Uche Nwosu, and brutally herding a bewildered crowd. Their actions portray a lack of training, awareness of the law, and due process or irreverent spite for same.
“The very nature of the arrest of Chief Uche Nwosu who was neither declared wanted by a competent court nor proven to be evading arrest betrays the political struggle between the state governor and Chief Nwosu’s father-in-law, Senator Rochas Okorocha. But by continually lending itself as a tool of political oppression in the power struggle that has consumed Imo State, the Nigeria Police Force is advertising itself as a ‘touts for hire’ agency, consumed more by subservience to the abuse of power and clout than by a sense of commitment to the law and due process and this is a truly regrettable state of affair.
“If the Nigeria Police Force was an oil corporation digging for crude oil, it would have dug to the core of the earth and beyond it into outer space. Its fascination with outdoing itself in gross levels of unprofessionalism and new lows in its conducts and actions leaves a lot to be desired. The Force is literally littered with hooligans in uniforms and louts who give it a bad name without let, and we must begin to have a conversation about its continuous usefulness the way it is structured to operate.”
He added, “The bastardization of the law and due process by the Police Force represents a great threat to the ideals of democracy that we claim to uphold and it is one that is frequently understated. We must now consider drastic actions beyond token disciplinary actions against a few errant officers to a complete overhaul of the Force without regards or favour to any.
“In the matter of the Gestapo arrest of Chief Uche Nwosu and the desecration of a place of worship, the Nigeria Police Force erred on the side of the law greatly and this I say without prejudice to the Force’s claims against the politician. The purpose of the law is for justice not just to be done but to be seen to be manifestly done. An illegality cannot cure suspicion of criminality, and in fact, lawless conduct in pursuit of a lawful purpose is self-defeating. The Nigeria Police is hereby cautioned to stop subverting the course of justice by their very actions.”
The manner of arrest of Nwosu on Sunday had initially fueled suspicion that Nwosu had been kidnapped.
Nwosu, his family, and well-wishers were at the church when the gunmen who operated in an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Toyota Hilux vans stormed the area.
They had shot indiscriminately before arresting Nwosu, while his security aides watched helplessly.
The manner of the arrest created panic among the worshippers.
But the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police in a statement clarified that Nwosu was arrested and not kidnapped.
The statement was titled, “Arrest of Chief Uche Nwosu.
It was signed by the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Michael Abattam, a Chief Superintendent of Police on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command.
Abattam said, “This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in police custody.
“This is to refute the earlier news that has been making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons/gunmen.
“The Commissioner of Police while using this medium to assure imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of Life and prosperity this yuletide seasons, advised the general public to always shun fake news.”
Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West at the Senate, in his reaction on Sunday alleged that the police operatives during the arrest of Nwosu pushed his wife, Nkechi, to the ground and tore the clothes of his first daughter, Uloma.
He alleged that the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, wants to frame up him and Nwosu, adding that Uzodinma deceived the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, into desecrating the church of worship by arresting Nwosu during the church service.
He spoke to journalists at his Spilbat mansion in Owerri, the state capital.
He further said Uzodinma had shown tremendous hatred for his family. He further alleged that Imo State lawmakers who attended Nwosu’s mother’s burial a few days ago had been suspended.
The former Governor also stated that he was waiting on Uzodinma to name the sponsors of the insecurity in the state on January 3 as the governor had said or take responsibility for the killings in Imo State.
Okorocha said “Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for a service when a group of men in police uniform while the sermon was ongoing, started shooting. In the course of their activities, they pushed my wife and they tore my daughter’s clothes. No warrant of arrest, no invitation.
“We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying the Imo state government number.
“They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial. I got the CP who said that IGP approved his arrest.
“The shock of such an arrest without a warrant and humiliating members of my family is unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo know nothing about the arrest. The IGP could only do this on high-level misinformation from Hope Uzodinma. Over 100 gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu.”
But the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the governor had no hand in Nwosu’s arrest and described Okorocha’s allegation against Uzodinma as ridiculous.
He further said Okorocha’s reaction had allegedly proved him guilty. He further alleged that Okorocha wanted to whip up sentiments among Imo citizens.
According to him, Okorocha should have waited for the law to take its course before reacting.
Emelumba said, “If Uche Nwosu is arrested, what he (Okorocha) should do is to wait and see why he was arrested. But he is talking incoherently and that will not save him. What he should do is wait for the law to take its course.
“All of you went to Orsu and saw the carnage there. I am not saying he is linked to the incident. You also witnessed his statement during his mother-in-law’s burial where he invited youths to protest. All these are evidence of his inciting actions in the state.”
“The government has no hand in the arrest of Uche Nwosu, but any attempt by Okorocha to use it to cause panic is evidence of guilt and that cannot save him.
“Okorocha contradicted himself when he said that the commissioner of police told him that the order came from the IGP and at the same time he said that the arrest was ordered by the governor. This shows that he is speaking incoherently and that cannot save him.”
Nwosu in a statement on Monday by his spokesman, Chikezie Nwadike, said he was released on Sunday and did not spend the night in the police custody.
Nwadike said, “This is to inform the general public, friends and well-wishers, supporters and sympathizers that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, who was abducted by security agencies while observing church service at St Peter’s Anglican Church Umunwokwe Village Eziama-Obaire Nkwerre LGA, has regained his freedom and released unconditionally. He never spent a night in their custody as every effort was put in place to get him out,” the statement reads.
“Recall the ugly incident that took place yesterday, 26th December 2021, at St Peter’s Anglican Church as security operatives swooped him inside the church during the outing service of his mother’s burial and whisked him away amidst sporadic shootings and harassment of the congregation.
“I have spoken with him and he extended his greetings to all of us out there. While we await a Police report on the reasons for the abduction and arrest, we call on everyone to remain calm and focused because God is in charge of the whole situation.
“Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is a perfect gentleman who has a great deal of respect for constituted authorities and has never for once caught up in civil disobedience. There was never an invitation and if anyone says otherwise, let the person come forth with evidence.”