Barely two months after a senior police officer, ASP Drambi Vandi allegedly murdered a pregnant lawyer, Bolanle Raheem in Ajah Lagos State, another senior police officer is in trouble for murder.
The Ministry of Justice (Department Of Public Prosecutions), Delta State has written the Delta State Police Command on moves to prosecute one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Louis Chike Nwabuwa for alleged armed robbery, felony, arson, murder and other related offences.
A letter to the Commissioner of Police dated 2nd of February 2023 and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions Delta State, has requested that the police authorities “to take disciplinary measures against ACP LOUIS CHIKE NWABUWA and thereafter make him available for prosecution.”
Some of the charges which the current serving ACP faces include:
Conspiracy to commit armed Robbery, punishable under S. 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearm Act 2004 (as amended ); Armed Robbery, punishable under S, 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearm Act 2004. Arson, punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C2) Vol 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006. Conspiracy to commit murder, punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Volume 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006; and Murder, punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21. Volume 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria. 2006.
Recall that on the 20th of December, 2022, five suspects, Godwin Asikawili alias Terror, NMDPRA officer Hyacinth Okeibunor Ohai alias high roller, Fidelis Nweke Odafe and Christopher Uche Odene were arraigned before the courts at Asaba for alleged conspiracy, arson, rape, malicious damage, assault, and murder and were remanded at the Federal Correctional Prison at Ogwashi-Uku.
Other suspects are currently at large.
The case stems from a June 2021 incident where, youths allegedly under the sponsorship of the ACP and other well placed members of the Azungwu community in Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom attacked the Odogwu (warlord) of the community over a dispute about a chieftaincy tussle.
In the process, three houses, livestock, farm and two vehicles, all worth over N500m and belonging to the Odogwu, Chief Gabriel Ohai, were set ablaze, while other properties were looted.
The incident was said to have left over 12 persons with varying degrees of injury and an individual dead.
Narrating his ordeal to correspondents in Asaba, Chief Gabriel Ohai lamented the lawlessness and impunity on the part of the suspects.
He said: “The police came to arrest one Ikechukwu Iloba Obata last year, who led hoodlums to beat a 75-year-old man to death. “The suspect raised the alarm and called his cohorts; and as early as 6am, they had already converged before the arrival of policemen and resisted his arrest.
“Immediately the police left, the hoodlums moved from the Ogwa (Hall) of ACP Chike Nwabua to my house, pulled down my gate and fence, and proceeded to my palace, set my house ablaze, “My workers’ quarters were also burnt down; my livestock of over 3,000 birds, 100 pigs and others were released into the forest.
“The farm was completely destroyed; some of my properties were looted and others set ablaze.
“The suspects with the connivance and master architect of ACP Chike Nwabua did everything possible to frustrate the investigations so the suspects will not be brought to justice. The investigation took close to 2 years to be completed.
He continued: “Some of them have been brought before the courts. They will have their day in court to answer to their charges.
“I want to thank the IGP of Police for his high standards and belief in the rule of law and belief in holding even the police to the highest standards. I wish to thank the police investigators who despite all the roadblocks finished their investigation. I also want to thank the Attorney General of Delta State and his staff for their painstaking review of the case file and charges brought against all the suspects. It is up to the courts to decide their guilt or innocence after the trial.”
