IGP Probes Land Grabbing, Threat To Businessman’s Life In Anambra

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into the alleged land grabbing and threat to life cases between a United States (US)-based Nigerian businessman, Bonaventure Ezekwenna (the petitioner) and one Peter Chijioke Okaa (the accused).

The order followed the petition written by Ezekwenna to the deputy inspector-general of police, dated March 5, 2024 that Chijioke had trespassed into his land, threatened his life and also collaborated with some police officers in Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State to maliciously carry out his activities.

Ezekwenna alleged that trouble started in 2021 when Chijioke tried to take over his land which he bought for N10 million.

The petitioner, in his petition, alleged that some police officers, who are collaborating with Chijioke tried to illegally arrest him through a ‘’fake” invitation letter but he decoded the plans and refused to go to the station in Anambra.

LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that in December 2023, there were media reports that a retired veteran of the United States of American army, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, escaped assassination plot in Anambra State.

Part of the report had stated that “Mr. Ezekwenna, an indigene of Nnobi community in Idemili-South local government area of Anambra State became a target when he arrived the state to testify at the Nnobi Chief Magistrate Court in Idemili-South local government area of Anambra state.”

Also, Ezekwenna alleged to have been fleeced of N530, 000 from the former IPO handling his case with the promise  “to assist me do a petition to IGP, takeover the case file and suspects from the police at Zone 13 Ukpo and burst their secret plot to secretly abduct and assassinate me. After collecting the money N530,000 from me, he took the case from Zone 13, but he failed to arrest the suspect.”

Disturbed by the allegations, the inspector-general of police, IGP Egbetokun on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, appointed CSP Peace Aneke, the new Police IPO to handle the case at the Force CID, Abuja with a directive to thoroughly investigate all issues raised and bring the culprits.

Reacting to the development, Ezekwenna, while speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, expressed optimism that the case will be handled well now. He however, said all eyes are now on the new IPO and the top police management staff to ensure that justice is seen to have been done.