The Ogbeozoma community in Delta State has asked Senator Ned Nwoko to refrain from interfering in the investigation of killings over a land dispute between it and Akpoma.
In a letter to the lawmaker through its lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the Ogbeozoma community said Nwoko’s claim to have intervened in the dispute was misleading as the case was in court.
Ejiofor said there were two subsisting cases before the Delta State High Court over the land in dispute.
In the first case (HCI/23/2021), the parties are Victor Nwokobia and two others (for themselves and as representing members of Ogbeozoma Community of Okpanam) against Agba Arinze and two others (for themselves and as representing members of Akpoma Quarters of Iselle-Azagba) before Iselle-Uku Judicial Division, Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State.
In the second case, suit HCI/6/2024, the parties are Ekwe Ogidi Integrated Resources Ltd against Fred Ajuduah and five others, also pending before the same court.
Ejiofor wrote: “In May 2024, our client’s community was invaded at the wee hours of the night by deadly thugs…
“During this unprovoked bloody attack on our client’s peaceful community, four able-bodied young men were gruesomely murdered by the invading assailants.
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“Today, the corpses of these young men are still deposited in the mortuary while the Police investigation is expeditiously going on. They have not been buried to date.
“While investigations into the bloody attack on our client’s peaceful community which resulted in the murder of these innocent citizens were going on; a publication dated 9th July 2024 in the “POINTER” Newspapers, was attributed to your office, to which our client had since published a rejoinder to the apparent falsehood conveyed through the insidious publication.
“Our client’s rejoinder further requested your distinguished office to refrain from misleading the general public…
“Our client was taken aback by the publication under reference. In as much as our client may carefully wish to avoid interpreting the said publication as a clear ploy to derail the Police investigation or an act of manifest shielding of an offender, it is their respectful request that you should not be involved in a conspiracy capable of interfering with legitimate police investigations.
“Our client reiterates their firm belief in the rule of law and confidence in the state’s authority to arrive at a just resolution of issues in dispute, otherwise, the court will proceed with the hearing of the cases.
“Investigation by the Police on the gruesome murders of four young men, the brutal shooting of our client’s youth leader in the person of Mr. Chinedu Ofuani, an indigene of Ogbeozoma, and the fatal shooting of a Police Sergent should be allowed to proceed uninterrupted, as the offences being investigated border on heinous crimes of capital punishment.
“It is against the backdrop of the foregoing serious situation, that we most respectfully urge you, Sir, to refrain from further engaging in misleading publications capable of portraying your esteemed office in a bad light.”