Chinedum Treasure
The Awka Progressives Forum (APF) a forum of Awka Patriots and Professionals has called on Anambra State Police Command and Department of State Security Services (DSS) in the state investigating alleged kidnap of one Ben Ezemma, aka Big Ben, Vice Chairman of Durbai Estate, to urgently extend their investigation to Chairman of Durbai Estate, one Chukwudi Ezenma and other associates of the missing person.
It would be recalled that the wife of Ezemma had in November 13, 2024, wrote a letter to the DSS, alleged that her husband, while staying at Maxbe hotel in Awka called about 6.25pm to tell her of a meeting he had with ohr ne Loco regarding land matters.
Her husband, she said, had not been seen since then, alleging that on that day he disappeared, he had met with Ozo Jeff Nweke at his Mango and Lion Properties building in Awka.
The DSS had since filed a suit at the High Court of Justice, Awka against some people and another involving Ozo Jeff Nweke as an interested party after preliminary investigations.
But in a statement by APF in Awka, the forum said it had been following the saga studiously and would want a situation where the investigating police and DSS officers should extend their searchlight to the associates of Mr. Ben Ezemma with a view to unraveling the mystery behind his disappearance on November 12, after speaking with his wife and some of his associates at Maxbe hotel on that day before leaving to meet with one Loco whom his wife mentioned in her petition.
According to the forum’s statement signed by Ken Igwedimma and Chinwuko Ibeabuchi as Chairman and Secretary respectively, the move was for proper and convincing investigation into the matter in avoidance of witch-hunt and miscarriage of justice.
The Forum said it decided to speak up after its attention was drawn to some snide unsigned Facebook remarks made by faceless people aimed at denigrating the person of Ozo Jeff Nweke and impugning his character before the right thinking public.
The statement said that such unsubstantiated Facebook remarks made before the matter is heard may be aimed at diverting attention, the more reason the security agencies should be more proactive and pursue their investigation diligently.
The statement reads in part, ” Such snide remarks in our view amounts to outright assassination of the character of Ozo Jeff Nweke, a media trial before the hearing and a ploy to denigrate and portray him in bad light in the eyes of undiscerning members of the public.
“Our investigations after reading the unsigned Facebook post showed that every piece of the write up therein was doubtful and out of tune with the character of Ozo Jeff Nweke who we have known as a philanthropist, fighter for the oppressed and less privileged members whose drive is to see to the development of Ezinano community and Awka in general with his hard earned resources.
” We recall that in December 2024, Ozo Nweke, a private security expert had pledged a #10million bounty on any information that could lead to the arrest by the police of those who murdered over 16 people in neighbouring Nibo community during their new yam festival.
“He had also donated on behalf of Ezinano community the sum of #100million to be shared among women and widows in Ezinano, to enable them engage in meaningful ventures and contribute their quota to the development of society because according to him, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop ‘.
“We are honestly taken aback by this obvious campaign of calumny against Ozo Jeff Nweke and wondered why the writer chose to remain faceless if his intentions and motivations were not sinister.
“We advise that these faceless Facebook writers who indulge in this campaign of calumny to channel their energies toward unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of Benjamin Ezemma on November 12, 2024, as reported by his wife for positive results.”
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