Enugu Royal Father Raises Alarm Over Illegal Blockage of Accounts And Threat To Life

By Frank Oshanugor

The traditional ruler of Nara-Unateze Community in Enugu State, Igwe Ifeanyi Ogbu (Eze Odenigbo Il) has sent a ‘save-my-soul’ plea to the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase alleging that a serving Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Special Enquiry Bureau, SEB, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and a policeman under his supervision connived to fraudulently obtain a suspicious banker’s order through the back door from Nasarawa State with which they caused his business accounts domiciled with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, to be illegally frozen.

Narrating the circumstances that led to the alleged act, Igwe Ogbu said in a strongly worded petition to PSC Chairman, that he was embarrassed when he went to make withdrawals from the bank on 4th of March, 2023 for his businesses only to be informed by the bank that his accounts were red-flagged and directed to contact one Commissioner of Police A. Ibrahim and Chief Superintendent of Police Sunny Amison, both of SEB Section at Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

Igwe Ogbu stressed that the action of the police was in total disregard with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police Force Headquarters, Abuja who had earlier directed discontinuation and transfer of any case being investigated at Abuja to Zone-13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia for harmonization to avoid duplicity. In the petition titled: ‘S.O.S against CP. A. Ibrahim and CSP Sunny Amison attached to SEB-section, FCIID, Abuja and for criminally undermining the order and directives of IGP, making false statements under oaths and solemn declaration, unlawful freezing of bank accounts using a fraudulently obtained banker’s order, flagrantly stalling an ongoing criminal investigation at Zone 13, Ukpo against IGP’s existing directives,’ the Royal father called for immediate action against the erring officials.

According to him, the case which is currently pending at the Police Zonal Headquarters, Ukpo Dunukofia, Anambra State is a case in which the Inspector-General of Police, FHQ, Abuja directed should be investigated and the needful done. The petitioner who resides and does his business at Enugu wondered why the choice of a Magistrates Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State to obtain a Banker’s Order to freeze his private bank accounts entirely outside the jurisdiction of Nasarawa State assuming but not conceding to any matter being handled at the FCID, Abuja with several High Courts situate within the FCT to be approached.

“For all intents and purposes, IAEGO Ventures Limited which account is frozen by the Police is a company registered bona-fide. The Igwe opined strongly that the whole essence of flagging his bank accounts and emplacing Post-No-Debit restrictions is to use same as bait to lure him out having perfected plans to kidnap and eliminate him after destroying his Palace and besieged with intimidating characters who poke every movement he makes.

Igwe Ogbu said it beats his imagination that CSP Sunny Amison and others could be allowed in a disciplined organisation to belittle the much respected office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FCIID, and turning it to an instrument of criminal oppression even as the officer uses his GSM No.+2347035567156 to call, and make untenable demands. A petition dated 2nd February, 2023 amongst others were quoted and IGP’s letter dated 7th Feb. 2023 while also making reference to total disregard for the Directives of the Inspector-General of Police, vide; CB: 4001/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.191/46 dated 29th December, 2022, on the standard for police Investigation and harmonization applicable to all formations of the Force for sanctity and guide against duplicity of purpose.

The Igwe reiterated that there was no gainsaying that the political atmosphere in the South-East coupled with activities of the Unknown Gunmen which have led to the gruesome killing of prominent sons of his Zone, including late Chief (Barr.) Oyibo Chukwu among other unresolved high profile killings in Enugu East LGA are issues for concern. “I see this yet as another game-plan to do me in” the Igwe said pointing how difficult it has been for him and family to survive with all his bank accounts frozen including the one through which the Enugu State pays him monthly stipends as Traditional Ruler.

“I am disturbed, today my accounts are frozen without any link to illicit transactions and no one knows what action is next on the sleeves. In this light, I am crying out to the world to hear me and to hold CP. A Ibrahim and CSP Sunny Amison liable should anything untoward happen to me even as I am passionately pleading, for the IGP to swiftly intervene to save this crying, yet agonizing soul from avoidable ugly stories.”

Meanwhile, attorney to the Royal father has set in motion and forwarded a copy of a suit instituted by him against the Inspector General of Police, CP A. Ibrahim. CSP Sunny Amison, First Bank Plc and Hon. V.V. Manga in pursuit of Enforcement of his fundamental human rights and fundamental rights enforcement procedure in an Enugu High Court against the respondents.

When contacted, spokesman of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani said; “The petition to the Chairman on the above subject matter has been referred to the Inspector General of Police for further investigation and necessary action. The commission will be awaiting report of the investigation from the IGP. As at press time, effort by Atlanticnewsonline to reach the Force Public Relations Officer for his comment on the issue had not yielded any positive result.