Guardian

AN Environmental Technologist based in Anambra State, Mr. Amaechi Elobi has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa over his incessant arrest, detention and harassment by security operatives from the state police command.

The petition, which was made available to The Guardian in Awka titled: “Re: Unlawful arrest, detention and continual harassment of Mr. Amaechi Elobi and Mr. John Nganaga…” was signed by the counsel to the applicants, Mr. K.C. Obiefuna.

Elobi alleged that his travail followed the sale of a parcel of land belonging to Nganaga to one Mr. Chiwendu Adirika from Nnewi, through negotiation by Mrs Eucharia Okonkwo of Amaenye village, Abagana, Njikoka Council Area.

He explained that the land situated at Ani-Agbalide Adagbe in Abagana, was sold sometime in April 2012 for N2.3 million during which an agreement was surprisingly written in Mrs Okonkwo’s name as the purchaser while he stood in as a witness for the land owner (Nganaga).

The petition in part read: “Mrs. Okonkwo entered into the land as purchased and started developing the said property by moulding blocks. To our dismay, on June 19, 2012, Elobi and Nganaga were invited to Abagana Police Station where they were compelled to make a statement under caution and equally made to sign an undertaking of a cheque for refund of the N1.3 million to the said Okonkwo.

“We were given one month in advance to pay the remaining balance of N1million under duress by the DCO Abagana. The DCO has refused to see that the relationship between the applicants and the said Mr. Adirika of Nnewi is a contractual obligation and not criminal,” Elobi said, adding that where either party feels aggrieved, the proper place to go is the court for interpretation of the agreement.

Elobi said that in spite of his petition dated August 22, 2012, he was still detained on August 24, 2012 at Abagana police station, which now forced him to file a case at the state High Court seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights, adding that he had lost confidence in the ability of the police to handle the matter.

He said that the court presided over by the administrative judge of Awka, Justice J.C. Iguh on September 10, 2012 granted an application restraining Mrs Okonkwo, Mr. Adirika and the police from further arresting him and Nganaga pending the determination of the suit No. A/MISC.115/2012.

The suit fixed for hearing on Tuesday could not hold and was adjourned off-record to October 11, following the commencement of the presiding judge’s vacation.