Alleged Murder Threat: Family accuses Imo House of Assembly Speaker

This is certainly a time to dread for members of the Whoba family of
Umuode, Ihinna community in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo
state, following what they described as alleged threat to their lives
and a murder attempt on one of their own, Chima Ezeoha Whoba, by
policemen deplored to the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly,
Benjamin Uwajumogu.

The family in a petition to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police
Affairs, Senator Igwe Igwuagwu, accused the Speaker of allegedly
using the Police to intimidate, harass and brutalise their members
and therefore called on relevant authorities to act urgently before
the situation leads to loss of lives. Indeed the fear of being
attacked by thugs stationed in the community or even killed has
prompted members of the family to flee their homes.

At the moment, Chima Whoma, a member of the family is said to be in a
critical condition at an undisclosed hospital, following a gun shot
wound allegedly inflicted on him by the policemen.

Trouble, as gathered, started for the Whoba family on July 30, 2014,
following the invasion of the community by armed policemen alleged to
have been led by the Speaker.

The unprecedented invasion was said to have been prompted by the
demolition of the gateway entrance into the community following
on-going road construction, an action that was reportedly kicked
against by members of the Whoba family , who explained that the
gateway was built by their late father in 1996 as a historical and
cultural research centre for the benefit of the community . They
therefore, posited that for it to be demolished, their consent must
be sought. While the family claimed to have sought for means of having
a round table meeting with the construction company,with a view to
demanding for compensation, it however, alleged in the petition signed
by its lawyer, Mr Victor Ukutt, that the demolition of the gate was
based on the instruction of the Speaker , whom Vanguard Metro, VM,
learnt is also from the community.

The petition read in part:
"Instead of the Speaker, whom we understood is the owner of the
construction company handling the road construction, to heed or
negotiate with our clients on the modalities for the payment of
compensation, the Speaker on July 30, 2014, brought his police details
to beat, maim and shoot at our clients".

After the demolition, Ukutt stated in the petition that members of
the Whoba family lodged a complaint about their demand for
compensation from the construction company at the Ihittee Uboma Police
division, as well as contacted the speaker via SMS . But the Speaker
was said to have shunned invitation by the police.

But the response the family claimed it got, according to the
petition, was an alleged invasion. The petition said: " The speaker
mobilised his thugs... who invaded our clients residence... Members of our
clients' family fled into the bush to avoid being killed. But Chima
Ezeoha Whoba was not so lucky as he was beaten and shot. At the
moment, the speaker has stationed militia group in our clients village
to kill and maim any member of our clients' family that may come out
to ask or demand compensation or discuss on the demolished entrance
gate.

"The questions begging for answers now are: Why would a number three
citizen of Imo State refuse to honour Police invitation? Why would a
number three citizen of Imo State take law into his hands by using
police to shoot and maim our clients for daring to demand their lawful
right? Why would a number three citizen of Imo State resort to the use
of militia group to deal with our clients?

Our demand

"We would like to draw the attention of the Senate to the fact that
the lives of our clients and members of their family are in danger,
and should anything untoward happen to them, we shall look at no
other place than the Speaker. We therefore urge the distinguished
senator to call an inquiry into the unlawful use of policemen to maim
, shoot and brutalise innocent citizens. It is also our demand that
this matter be tabled before the Senate Committee on Public Petition
and where infraction is established, an appropriate punishment should
be meted out thereto.

"We demand that the speaker be arrested in order for him to produce
those people he hired to come and shoot. We also demand that the
people should be made to stand trial for the action of attempted
murder. Furthermore, we would want government to disband the militia
the Speaker is keeping in the community . That is what we want," Ukutt
said.

Vanguard