Families seek IGP’s intervention as EEDC moves against court order

Maduako Igbokwe  l Wednesday, March 01, 2023

AWKA, Anambra, Nigeria – The families  of Anthony Ginijeme and Henry Nwobodo have  called on the Inspector General of Police IGP to  immediately direct the Anambra State Police Command to  obey the order of the court by  releasing them.

Police in Anambra State have refused to release two persons detained in their custody for alleged conspiracy and vandalisation of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) property in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The  legal team of the detained applicants Anthony Ginijeme and Henry Nwobodo accused an Anambra businessman, Chief Emeka Offor, of being behind the continuous detention of the  duo.

They alleged that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the matter had boasted that Chief Offor would influence   the Magistrate handling the matter to continue the detention of the duo since he is close to the Inspector-General of Police (IG).

The legal team then called on the IG to  immediately direct the Anambra State Police Command to  obey the order of the court by  releasing the applicants.

The duo of   Ginijeme and Nwobodo were arrested by Police in February 14, 2023 after they had entered the premises of Mr. Onyeka Nelson Ibeagwa where they damaged properties  in the name of investigation without lawful justification.

Ibeagwa and others went to court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights in suit No.HID/MISC/2023 between Onyeka Nelson Ibeagwa and two others versus Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State,AIG, Zone 13, the Inspector-General of Police.

The applicants also  applied  for exparte motion in which they asked for substituted service, and injunction pending the hearing of the substantive suit which was granted by Justice Chudi Nwankwo on February 23, 2023.

According to the order: “The respondents are hereby ordered to forthwith release the 2nd and 3rd applicants who were on February 14, 2023 arrested and detained by the men and officers”.

The order was served on the parties for the unconditional release of the applicants in obedience to court order but instead of obeying the order, EEDC went ahead to file two counts charge of conspiracy and vandalisation.

The IPO was said to have boasted that Chief Emeka Offor would influence the Magistrate and the applicants would be remanded in prison even without the Court having jurisdiction.