Traditional ruler of Nara-Unateze Community in Enugu State, Igwe Ifeanyi Ogbu (Eze Odenigbo Il), has raised the alarm over what he called a suspicious banker’s order which led to freezing of his business accounts in a first-generation bank.
The monarch, in a petition to the chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr Solomon Arase, alleged that a serving commissioner of police in charge of Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and a policeman under his supervision were responsible for the action.
Ogbu, in the petition, said he was embarrassed when he attempted to withdraw money from the bank on March 4, 2023 for his businesses but was told by the bank that his accounts had been flagged.
He was thereafter directed to contact the police commissioner and the officer both of whom are in the SEB Section at Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
When contacted, spokesman of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said, “The petition to the chairman on the above subject matter has been referred to the Inspector General of Police for further investigation and necessary action.
The commission will be awaiting a report of the investigation from the IGP.”
The monarch said the police officers’ action was in disregard of a directive of the Inspector-General of Police Force Headquarters, who directed discontinuation and transfer of any case being investigated at Abuja to Zone-13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia for harmonisation and avoidance of duplicity.
The petition entitled: “S.O.S against CP. A. Ibrahim and CSP Sunny Amison attached to SEB-section, FCIID, Abuja and for criminally undermining the order and directives of IGP, making false statements under oaths and solemn declaration, unlawful freezing of bank accounts using a fraudulently obtained banker’s order, flagrantly stalling an ongoing criminal investigation at Zone 13, Ukpo against IGP’s existing directives,” the Royal father call for immediate action against the erring officials.
A petition dated 2nd February, 2023 amongst others were quoted and IGP’s letter dated 7th Feb. 2023 while also making reference to total disregard for the Directives of the Inspector-General of Police, vide; CB: 4001/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.191/46 dated 29th December, 2022, on the standard for police investigation and harmonization applicable to all formations of the Force for sanctity and guide against duplicity of purpose.
According to the traditional ruler, the case which is presently pending at the Police Zonal Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State is a case in which the Inspector-General of Police, FHQ, Abuja directed should be investigated and the needful done.
The petitioner who resides and does his business in Enugu wondered why a Magistrate Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State was picked to obtain a banker’s order to freeze his private bank accounts.
He said the case is entirely outside the jurisdiction of Nasarawa State, adding that if at all the matter is to be handled by the FCID, several High Courts situated within the FCT should have been approached.
“For all intents and purposes, IAEGO Ventures Limited, whose account is frozen by the police, is a company registered bona-fide. The Igwe opined strongly that the whole essence of flagging his bank accounts and emplacing Post-No-Debit restrictions is to use same as bait to lure him out having perfected plans to kidnap and eliminate him after destroying his Palace and besieged with intimidating characters who pokes on every movement he made.
“I see this yet as another game-plan to do me in”, the Igwe said pointing out how difficult it has been for him and family to survive with all his bank accounts frozen including the one through which the Enugu State pays him monthly stipends as traditional ruler.
He said, “I am disturbed, today my accounts are frozen without any link to illicit transactions and no one knows what action is next on the sleeves.
“In this light, I am crying out to the world to hear me and to hold CP. Ibrahim and CSP Sunny Amison liable should anything untoward happen to me even as I am passionately pleading, for your IGP to swiftly intervene to save this crying, yet agonizing soul from avoidable ugly stories.”
