A Member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Odafe Obasi Odafe has decried what he termed the high handed and intolerance of David Umahi, against the opposition PDP, in Ebonyi State.
In a petition by his Lawyer, Nkemakolam Okoro S.C, Esq. sent to the office of the Inspector General of police, the honourable member alleged that his life and that of his family members are no longer safe.
Read the full letter below
22nd February 2022
The Inspector-General of Police,
Nigeria Police Force,
Luis Edet House,
Force Headquarters,
Abuja.
Dear sir,
A CASE OF CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, FORGERY, CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION, THREATS TO LIFE, AND CONDUCTS LIKELY TO CAUSE BREACH OF PUBLIC PEACE, AGAINST DAVID UMAHI, THE GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE, HON FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU, THE SPEAKER OF EBONYI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AND HON KINGSLEY OGBONNA IKORO: THE URGENT NEED FOR THE INTERVENTION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
Our services have been retained by Hon Odefa Obasi Odefa, whom we shall hereinafter refer to, as our client and on whose firm instructions, we write to your esteemed office.
It is our client’s instructions that he was elected as a Member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, in March 2019. Sometime in June 2019, our client was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
It is further our client’s instructions, that on the 19th day of November 2020, the Governor of Ebonyi State who was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, made desperate efforts, to drag high ranking members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, with him to the Apc, which attempt, was resisted by the said members of the Peoples Democratic Party.
That consequent upon the refusal of the member of the Peoples Democratic Party to join the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi to the Peoples Democratic, that he concocted several allegations to frame them up just to subjugate them. That the Governor of Ebonyi State had also approached him, seeking that he joins the All Progressives Congress, and he resisted the Governor.
That just recently, David Umahi, approached him, to join his team to the All Progressives Congress National Convention, earlier scheduled to hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory in February 2022, so as to support his presidential ambition. That he informed the governor, that he will not join him to the APC, convention, as he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. That pursuant to his conversations with the governor, he held a press conference on the 19th day of February 2022, wherein, he publicly reaffirmed his membership of the Peoples Democratic.
That his public declaration and affirmation of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party incensed the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, who immediately put the machinery in motion to illegally remove him as member of the state House of Assembly and as the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
That consequent upon his public declaration and affirmation of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, that David Umahi, in connivance with Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and Hon Kingsley Ogbonna Ikoro, forged his old letter headed paper, which he last used in 2018, and discarded after his inauguration in March 2019, as a member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly. That the said David Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State, Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, and Hon Kingsley Ogbonna Ikoro, conspired, and forged his signature, and a purported letter of resignation, by which they allegedly removed him from office on the 21st day of February 2022, as the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, and as a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. A copy of the said forged letter is attached herewith as Annexure A.
That the said letter by which he was purportedly removed from office, was dated the 15th of November 2021 and received in the office of the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly on the 21st day of February 2022, pursuant to which the Speaker, in connivance with some members of the state House of Assembly, allegedly removed him from office and declared his seat vacant.
That he never authored any such letter, and never submitted any such letter to the office of the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, on the said 21st day of February 2022, or any other date whatsoever, or to anyone whosoever.
That immediately upon his removal, the governor of Ebonyi State, sent men, in police uniforms, who are desperately hunting for him, in Ebonyi State, to torture and possibly kill him. Our client believes, that the persons, heavily armed, parading in police uniforms, are hired assassins, sent by the said David Umahi, against his person.
That he received a letter purportedly directing the Commissioner Police Ebonyi State, to recover government properties in his possession. In accordance with the letter, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, whom the governor of Ebonyi State, has consistently used to intimidate members of the opposition party in the state, immediately deployed a battalion of heavily armed policemen, who have been stationed at his home, as no one is allowed entry or exit to and from his home in Abakaliki. Our client and members of his family, are now locked up in their home, and cannot access the basic necessities of life, and are not sure of survival the next minute.
The members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, are no longer comfortable, with the conduct of the David Umahi, who wants to suppress all members of the opposition party in the state for his political gains. That he as a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had consistently called on his innumerable supporters not to fight back.
That except by the urgent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, there may likely be, a breakdown of law and order in Ebonyi State, due to the high handed and intolerance of David Umahi, against the opposition PDP, in Ebonyi State.
It is further our client’s instructions, that he and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, do not have confidence in the neutrality of the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, in respect of political issues in the state, and want a neutral police Department in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory to investigate this matter and to restore peace, law and order in Ebonyi State.
Our client, urgently look forward to the immediate response from the Inspector General of Police, to save his life and that of other members of his family.
Please accept the assurances of our Chambers’ highest esteem.
Yours Sincerely
Nkemakolam Okoro S.C, Esq.
