Sources in the Enugu State Ministry of Justice told SaharaReporters that they hope recently appointed Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, would help prosecutors to unmask all the kidnappers of Lotachukwu (Lota) Ezeudu, a 2nd year student of accountancy at the University of Nigeria (Enugu campus) who was kidnapped in late September 2009 and has not been seen since. The kidnap victim, whose father, Bona Ezeudu, is one of Nigeria’s major painters and sculptors, was 19 at the time of his kidnap.
The trial of the apprehended suspects in the case will resume today, Friday, February 10 at an Enugu High Court. The suspects to be arraigned tomorrow include Ernest Okeke, a former police officer, Nnaemeka Chukwu, the son of a wanted Divisional Police Officer, Fabulous Chukwu, and Moses Uche Amajor, the son of an hotelier who was arrested April last year after being on the run for more than a year and a half.
But our sources said prosecutors want IGP Abubakar to demonstrate greater interest in the case than his predecessor, Hafiz Ringim, who ignored several pleas to help in searching for a fugitive Divisional Police Officer Sam Chukwu who is believed to have masterminded the kidnap.
DPO Sam Chukwu has been on the run since last year when prosecutors with the Enugu Ministry of Justice declare him a suspect in the case. However, his son, Nnaemeka Chukwu, who was reportedly used to lure Lota Ezeudu into the kidnap trap, is in prison custody and among suspects who will appear in court tomorrow. Nnaemeka Chukwu and Lota Ezeudu were classmates in secondary school.
A source told SaharaReporters that prosecutors as well as the family of the kidnapped young man were disappointed with former Inspector General of Police Ringim who was nonchalant about demands that the police authorities fish out Sam Chukwu who tainted the image of the police by sponsoring a band of kidnappers made up of serving and sacked junior police officers.
“Ringim knew everything about the case of the young man, Lota Ezeudu,” said a source. “He was the deputy IG in charge of the southeastern command in Umuahia when Lota was kidnapped – and he was fully briefed about the involvement of DPO Chukwu.” Despite his familiarity with the case, sources within the Ministry of Justice expressed dismay that Mr. Ringim ignored pleas to declare Sam Chukwu wanted and to assist in tracking him down. One source even wondered if the recently dismissed IG was out to shield Sam Chukwu from prosecution, adding that they had received tips that the fugitive DPO was sometimes sighted at the national headquarters of the police force in Abuja.
“The new IG has vowed to get serious with fighting crime in our society. We are calling on him to immediately declare DPO Chukwu wanted so that members of the public who know where he is hiding will give the information,” said one source. He added: “The man [DPO Chukwu] has soiled the image of the police by creating a band of armed robbers and kidnappers whose activities enriched him. Alhaji Abubakar should tell the world that he means business by helping to apprehend the biggest suspect in this case.”
Source: Saharareporters
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