Former lawmaker, Senator Obi Igbeke is no longer in the good books of the people of Anambra North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the constituency he once represented at the National Assembly.
The former Director General of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has been sent on exile from Nsugbe, his hometown over allegations of unlawfully arresting some youth leaders in the community. The former lawmaker was accused by the Nsugbe Council of Elders of Nsugbe community of forcefully snatching land and arbitrarily arresting eight youths who were taken to the police authorities in Awka and whose whereabouts are still unknown.
It was alleged that he masterminded the killing of those eight youths. In November 2022, two youth leaders in Nsugbe community, Chidi Akudo and Charles Obodoechina, were arrested and detained by the Anambra State Police Command on the orders of Igbeke.
Despite the fact that hundreds of women and youths from the community protested against the detention of their sons by the Nigeria Police Force, the senator instructed that they should not be released. The Council of Elders also pleaded with him to release the boys. He promised that they would be released because they have committed no offence, but he didn’t fulfill his promise.
He also instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police not to attend to the council of elders who went to bail the youths. After so much pleading from the community, the two youths were released last week after spending about two months in detention. However, the whereabouts of the remaining eight youths are still unknown.
The community has pleaded with him to disclose where they were taken to or what happened to them. The Council of elders had to place a fine of N1 million on the senator and also a fine of N100, 000 on whosoever associates with him because of all the allegations.
However, Igbeke revealed that they are lies fabricated by few disgruntled elements in the community who are envious of his achievements. He said at no time did he arrest any innocent youth and dumped them in a police cell. He also denied masterminding their killings, nor forcefully snatching people’s lands as being alleged by the community.
He accused his enemies of using the members of his community to smear his good name.
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