A Police witness, Abdulmumuni Mohammed on Wednesday told the IIP-SARS that one Peter Ekwealor, a member of Odekpe Community in Anambra state slumped after his confessional statement that he participated in the killing of ASP Akoh Ude when he (Akoh Ude) led other policemen on a peace mission in June 2020.
Peter Ekwealor (now deceased) was arrested and detained alongside Chief Peter Ikechi and Mr Ekene Okona from the same Odekpe Community.
Testifying before the 11-Member panel presided over by Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) on behalf of the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd), the Police witness said that Peter Ekwelor (now deceased) confided in some police officers to reveal that it was some members of the Odekpe Community that killed ASP Akoh Ude when he led a Police team on a peace mission to the area.
According to Abdulmumuni, the late Peter informed the police in his statement that he and some other members of Odekpe Community took an oath of secrecy at Attah Okakwu’s palace (the paramount Ruler of the Community) not to reveal to anyone the death of ASP Akoh, (whom they allegedly killed).
“After making the confessional statement while he was in police detention with his casemates, Chief Ikechi Peter and Ekene Okona, he (Peter Ekwealor) slumped”, the witness stated.
He told the Panel that the attention of the team investigating the matter was called and he and some other investigation officers rushed Peter to Asokoro General Hospital but due to the strike action as at that time, the victim was taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada and that a few minutes later, the Doctors on duty confirmed him dead.
On account of the above, he said that Peter’s body was deposited at UATH for the purpose of post mortem examination and that a Police wireless message was immediately sent to the DIG Force Investigation Department (FID) informing him of the death of the suspect.
He told the panel that the family of late Peter was contacted and informed about the death of their relation.
“Two weeks after, Anambra state governor, His Excellency Willie Obiano sent a delegation led by the Permanent Secretary Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to the IRT Office to meet with the Police authority and appeal for the release of the other two detainees, Ikechi and Ekene on bail.
Narrating further, he told the panel that the duo of Ikechi and Ekene were released to Hon. Ekene Obiajulu and that two weeks after, he called the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG who confirmed to him that the Governor summoned the people involved in the alleged attack and killing of ASP Akoh Ude and they refused to honour the summons and rather said that the police should give them more time, only for them to say that the Police can go ahead and take whatever action they deem fit in the circumstance.
Thereafter, he said that the family of late Peter started writing petitions, through one Barrister Adekole to the Police to release the corpse unconditionally.
He informed the panel that on April 2020, Patrick Ude of Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue state had written a petition to the IGP alleging criminal conspiracy, attack on Policemen while on a peace mission in Odekpe Community, abduction, murder of ASP Akoh Ude attached to N0. 29 Police Mobile Force, Awka, Anambra state.
In the said petition, the witness stated that the petitioner who is elder brother to the late ASP Ude had alleged that he never heard from his brother since 23rd April 2020, after he led 14 Policemen to Odekpe Community on a peace mission.
The panel also admitted several exhibits including statements of the trio of chief Ikechi, Ekene and Ekwealor and photographs of the skulls and bones purporting the killing of Ekwealor by Odekpe Community etc. which were tendered by the police lawyer, Fidelis Ogwobe.
The case was adjourned to 26th of November, 2021 for cross-examination of the witness and defense.
Meanwhile, another petition of alleged torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Mr Linus Godwin was adjourned to November 26, 2021, for the adoption of addresses by all the parties.
