Okonkwo earlier raised an alarm over an alleged threat to his life and immediate family by Chima and accused the officer in charge of Kaura Market Police Post, DSP Mary Lsah of complicity.
An Abuja-based businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Daniels Entertainment Ltd, Mr Daniel Okonkwo has narrated how he was detained for five days in Keffi prison for raising the alarm over the failure of the Nigeria Police Force to probe a complaint he brought against one Chima C., a trader in Kaura Market.
Okonkwo earlier raised an alarm over an alleged threat to his life and immediate family by Chima and accused the officer in charge of Kaura Market Police Post, DSP Mary Lsah of complicity.
Okonkwo alleged that after Chima assaulted him and inflicted bodily injuries on him, the Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the post in the market threatened to charge him with an offence if he failed to withdraw his report against Chima for the alleged assault.
He accused the police boss of openly threatening to kill him.
After speaking out about how policemen took sides with Chima, Mr Okonkwo told SaharaReporters that the police have now instituted a case against him and one other person before a Magistrate Court at Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja.
The Chief Executive Officer of Daniels Entertainment Ltd said he was invited by the police on September 8, 2023, for an interview and that he showed up. However, he said the session could not be held due to Chima’s absence.
He revealed further that he got another invitation from the police on September 15, 2023, and that when he honoured the invitation, he realised a case had been instituted against him by the police.
Okonkwo said he was taken to court by the police without any prior information relating to the charge brought against him and without giving him access to a legal practitioner of his choice.
He said, “The FCT police PPRO SP Josephine Ade Daniel invited us for an interview, and after the interview, we were taken to the DCP CID FCT Ahmed Musa and he also interviewed us and told his deputy CSP IG FCT Police Command Usin A Usin to obtain our statement and detain myself and Mr Chima, we were granted bail and were asked to come the following day and the day after. In fact, we came throughout that week.
“The IPO Hassan handling the case at the FCT Police Command advised me to withdraw the case, I approached DCP Ahmed Musa and told him that I was sorry and I wished to withdraw the case, he agreed and I met with OC CSP Usin A Usin, and the case was settled on the 9/6/23.
“Last two weeks, 8/9/23, I got a call from the police that I had an interview, I went to the FCT Police Command for the interview but it didn’t hold because one of the invitees Mr Chima didn’t come.
“Last Wednesday, I got a text message from the Second IPO Faruk that I was invited for an interview at the FCT Police Command on 15/9/23. I went around after 8 am and was there for over three hours. When the IPO Officer Faruk came, he asked us to come with him, that we were going to the court.
“I was not told in advance or sent a message to come with my lawyer. I was forcefully taken to Wuse Zone 2 Court 10 and was arraigned before a magistrate and he granted us bail but due to the short time frame that was masterminded by the police, I couldn’t perfect the bail condition in the shortest time.”
“I got a lawyer outside the court who argued our case but it was unfortunate that I was taken to Keffi prison. I spent five days in Keffi prison. I secured bail last Tuesday 19/9/2023. According to the Police Prosecutor, the case was between myself and the Commissioner of Police, FCT,” Okonkwo told SaharaReporters.
When SaharaReporters reached out to the DPO on the telephone when Okonkwo first made the allegations, she confirmed that she asked Mr Okonkwo to withdraw the case saying, “Yes, because they were fighting; that was why I said he should withdraw the case.”
She added, “You know this is not a phone matter. I don’t like phone conversations on cases, if he is around come with him, please. It is not a phone matter, you understand?”
Meanwhile, when Chima was contacted for his reaction, he said he fought with Chima but denied taking pictures of his daughter or threatening to kill them, as Okonkwo had alleged.
“We fought on Friday, he injured me and I injured him. He injured my right eye and took me to the police and the police advised us that we should go and settle it.
“We all agreed, our neighbours around the market came and we agreed. He brought out a bill that he spent N20,000 and the policewoman said no need for trouble, we should go and sort ourselves out since he is claiming he spent N20,000 that for the sake of peace, I should pay the money.
“I agreed to pay the money on Tuesday being tomorrow and we left. Since then, I haven’t been to the market, I have not called him. I don’t know how I am threatening him or his family. So I never threatened him and I had never threatened him,” Chima said.
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