|
Listen to article
|
The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC) has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of Mr. Shadrach Okenwa, the Palace Secretary to Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area. This decision follows a public hearing held in Awka to address the causes of insecurity in Anambra communities.
Faced with the challenge of rising violent agitations and turmoil, Governor Charles Soludo established the ATJPC in June 2022, aiming to deeply investigate and effectively address the issues not only within the state but also in the surrounding regions.
Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, chairing the commission, along with Secretary Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, issued a statement affirming that on March 16, 2017, an Anambra High Court in Ogidi, presided over by Hon. Justice Arinze Akabua, delivered a judgment against Okenwa and other individuals incriminated in the shooting and fatal incident involving Obiesie Anaekwu on December 5, 2012.
The case identified by suit no. HID/MISC.30/2013, involved Mrs. Ifeoma Helen Anaekwu and Obiesie Michael Anaekwu as the plaintiffs, who took legal action against the State Security Service and 11 other defendants. Notably, Okenwa, who held the position of Igwe Iweka’s palace secretary, was among the respondents named in the lawsuit.
‘The court found as a fact that the named respondents, including Mr. Okenwa, were indeed present at Nkpor Junction on December 12, 2012, during the attack and shooting of the applicants, leading to injury and trauma to the first Applicant and the death of the second applicant.’
‘This finding of fact by a competent court of law remains in force and has not been set aside, so the suspension takes immediate effect.’
Read also: IPOB Condemns Beheading Of Anambra Lawmaker
The commission expressed its utter surprise that, despite the court’s factual finding more than six years ago, Okenwa has remained in the position of Igwe Iweka’s Palace Secretary.
‘His continued occupation of that office is an avoidable source of distrust in the community as well as disobedience to a court judgment,’ it stated.
The commission made mention of Igwe Iweka’s sworn testimony, where he expressed his consent to the suspension order on Okenwa, in line with the terms determined by the commission. Igwe Iweka assured that he would fulfill his responsibility of sending the letter to officially carry out the suspension.
Urging swift compliance, the commission called upon Igwe Iweka to promptly send the letter of Okenwa’s suspension from the role of Palace Secretary to the commission’s Secretariat within a 48-hour timeframe.
Furthermore, Igwe Iweka testified that the insecurity and killings in Obosi were a result of multiple factors, including clashes between cult groups, drug-related activities, and unresolved conflicts linked to his enthronement in 2012.
Describing the precarious state of affairs, Igwe Iweka recounted narrowly escaping four assassination attempts amidst the escalating insecurity in Obosi. Moreso, he expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, notably including the former President General of the town.
Igwe Iweka spoke of his active pursuit in combating drug and narcotic trafficking within the area, but he lamented the lack of desired cooperation from the responsible institutions tasked with combatting this crime.
Witnesses from Obosi voiced their grievances regarding the abandonment of the White Paper on the Obosi Administrative Panel of Inquiry, which was submitted in 2016
It was firmly stated that the resolution of Obosi’s security concerns would be greatly facilitated by the full implementation of the recommendations outlined in the White Paper.
