The Labour Party lawmakers asserted that, to facilitate the suspects’ escape and deny the late lawmaker justice, the police deliberately refrained from taking any action to rearrest the fugitives after more than a week of their escape.
The Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly has accused the state police command of orchestrating the escape of two suspects arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of the late lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka.
The Labour Party lawmakers asserted that, to facilitate the suspects’ escape and deny the late lawmaker justice, the police deliberately refrained from taking any action to rearrest the fugitives after more than a week of their escape.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the lawmakers making these allegations included Hon. Barr. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, Hon. Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Fred Ezenwa, Hon. Barr Pat Okafor, Hon. Tochukwu Udemezue, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu, and Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi.
They stated that the manner in which the suspects escaped from the custody of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the police’s nonchalant handling of the situation confirm their suspicions that the late lawmaker’s murder was a political assassination.
“Recall that Hon. Justice Azuka was abducted on 24th of December, 2024 at Ugwunabankpa in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
“After a strenuous search spanning over 46 days, the body of Hon. Justice was recovered and his abductors and murderers were equally arrested by men of Agunaechemba and handed over to the police, specifically, the members of the Police Rapid Response Squad (aka RRS).
“Everybody was waiting for justice to be served on his abductors and murderers.
“Interestingly, the Police Public Relations Officer issued a press release indicating that two of the suspects who murdered Hon Justice escaped in controversial circumstances,” the Labour Party lawmakers said.
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, announced in a statement that two suspects linked to the murder of the late member of the state assembly representing Onitsha 1 Constituency had escaped from police custody.
Ikenga stated that preliminary investigations indicated the suspects were assisting police officers in an operation to arrest the receiver of stolen goods and recover operational vehicles used by the criminal gang.
However, it has been revealed that the police statement was issued eight days after the suspects escaped from custody.
Additionally, the police authorities in the state have refused to disclose the identities of the fleeing suspects or provide full details surrounding their escape.
The Labour Party caucus of the State House of Assembly, colleagues, and party members of the late lawmaker, accused the police of covering up the case.
They said, “We have reviewed the stories as told by the police and found it to be utterly disappointing and reprehensible and a clear sign that there is a cover up somewhere.
“Our suspicion that this could be a political assassination has been heightened by this development.
“This is coupled with the fact that the police did practically nothing in the part of efforts leading up to the arrest of these suspects.
“It may interest you to know that this alleged escape happened more than one week from the date of this press release, yet up till now the police has neither declared the suspects wanted nor made any effort in that regard apart from mere platitudinal press release.”
They emphasized that by now, the suspects’ pictures, full names, addresses, hometowns, and other details should have been widely circulated in the public domain and on social media.
This would enable people to identify them and report to security agents for their re-arrest.
“These not being done is a pointer to the fact that it could be an arranged escape,” the lawmakers said.
“The police officers that handled the alleged arrest of the receiver of the stolen vehicles were not only unprofessional but culpable.
“Therefore, the Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly demands: ‘The immediate re-arrest of the fleeing suspects whom the police did not mention, but who had been found to be Kelvin Ikechukwu Ossai (aka Ikem) and another popularly known as Ocha.
“’Thorough investigation, apprehension, and subsequent punishment of the officers who are culpable in the escape of the suspects.
“’There should be a total overhaul of the RRS and other police formations who had been found wanting in the discharge of their duties in this perilous time.
“’We demand justice for Hon. Justice Azuka, for justice shall not and ought not die in vain.’”
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