The Edda clan, operating under the auspices of Edda Identity, in the Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; the Amnesty International, the Federal Ministry of Interior; the Federal Ministry of Defense; among others to, as a matter of urgency, transfer the case file of killers of a police inspector, Insp. Festus Akpan, two civilian youths and a seven-month-old pregnant woman, to Forces Headquarters Abuja, for a proper trial.
This was as the group alleged that the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Barr. Cletus Ofoke has allegedly moved the care file of the suspects, and hob-nobbed with both the police and court hierarchy, in a bid to set the killers free, without trial in a competent court of law.
The Convener of Edda Identity, a socio-cultural organisation in the Afikpo South Council area, Julius Oji (aka Ochiri Edda) said this in a statement, on Wednesday.
According to him, "There is a grand plot and arrangement by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ebonyi State, Cletus Ofoke, acting on the orders of the Ebonyi State Government, to move the case file of these suspects and killers, from the police and court authorities in the state, in a bid to release the suspects, without trial.
"We, the people of Edda reject this move and we call on the Inspector-General of Police; Amnesty International; the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Interior to intervene.
"We, the people frown at the unpopular and unacceptable move by the Ebonyi State Government, to release these suspects from police custody without trial and proper arraignment in a competent court of law.
"Their idea is to release these criminals before the elections, for them to continue their killing spree and we, the people of Edda reject this move, because it's against our peace and collective existence, as a people. And we, therefore, demand the transfer of this matter and the case of these suspects to Forces Headquarters/Abuja, for proper trial and adjudication."
Recall Insp. Akpan, two youths and a pregnant woman were allegedly killed between December 26, 2022, and January 1, 2023, by suspected hoodlums in the area.
Consequently, Governor Umahi set up a Panel of Inquiry to, among other things, find out the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.
When contacted the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Ofoke, described the accusation as a mere rumour, noting that all those involved in the heinous act will face the consequences.
He said, "Ignore that allegation. Once we get the file, we will vet it and at the appropriate time, any person found wanting in respect of the crime committed in Edda will go in for it. I cannot do that. It's a mere allegation. Whosoever that committed the offence will face the consequences."
