The Temple of Justice Foundation (TJF), a Non-Governmental Organization, has faulted the delay in the criminal investigation and prosecution by the Police in Enugu, on the murder and kidnapping allegations, among others, levelled against High Chief Levi Onyema Obu, also known as Ezeani (I Dey Play, I Dey Show).
Recall that Ezeani, a native doctor from Umumba-Ndiagu in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was arrested by an operative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at Seme Border in Lagos State, while attempting to flee from the country on May 29, this year, shortly after allegedly committing the crime.
One is his accomplices, said to be a businessman in Aba, Abia State, was arrested by irate youths in the spot at Ezeani’s home.
The other alleged accomplices, who belong to a so-called social club, who were also fingered in ritual killings in and around the LGA, have had their names and telephone numbers listed by the arrested accomplice to Ezeani.
Some of those fingered by the suspect, although they agreed to be members of the club, have since been denying being part of ritual murder, but have not been able to explain their sources of stupendous wealth.
Reacting in a statement by the Executive-Director, Temple of Justice Foundation (TJF), Ozo Alex Amujiogu, which was made available to newsmen Saturday, it stated that, the group “is worried that despite preliminary investigations showing claim of discovery of dead bodies of kidnaped victims, including a heavily pregnant woman, and a young boy taking his Senior Secondary School examinations, who were discovered buried in a soakaway pit his compound, and the rescue of a 13-year old girl from the scene, nothing or no meaningful legal outcome has emerged from the case.”
They added that, the said men (Ezeani and his accomplice) who had been in police detention for more than two months, calls for clear statement from the police on why investigation has not yet been concluded.
“The police force must know that the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) under Section 36, guarantees the right to fair hearing, which also entails right to fair investigation.
“The said grundnorm further guaranteed the right to personal liberty under Section 35, which mandated the police force under it’s subsection 4 and 5, to charge any person arrested and detained at most, within 48 hours from the date of incarceration.
“A suspect, with alleged quantum of evidence recovered from him, what then is holding the conclusion of police investigation report more than two months now, when the law had clearly provided a limitation time for investigation especially where the suspect is in detention.
“Constitutionally , based on the nature of the alleged offence and outcry/condemnation, the said suspect should have been charged to court or otherwise, as the reasonable time allowed by law has long elapsed.
“Criminal investigation cannot be allowed to continue ad infinitum, let alone, a case of this nature, were tangible evidence to be investigated have all been laid bare before the police.
“To the foundation, this delay, in all intent and purposes, can no longer be tolerated as time for the police authority to act is now.
“Consequently, the foundation is therefore constrained to issue 7-days ultimatum to the leadership of Enugu State Police Command to immediately conclude their investigation on the Ezeani saga without further delay and appropriately charge him to court as provided by law.
“In the unlikely event that the police authority fails, refuse and/neglect to harken to the above demands, they should be sure as day follows night, that we shall activate the prerogative force of Mandamus against them.
“Justice must always be done and actually seen to have been done . However, in this case, we have not seen justice yet,” the group stressed.
