Prof. Benard Odoh, an APGA candidate for governor in Ebonyi State’s general elections in 2023, criticized the police announcement that listed him and nine other people as wanted as being unusual and prejudicial.
He claimed that the police put him on their wanted list in order to thwart and ruin his prospects of winning the state’s governorship race on Saturday.
On Monday, the Ebonyi State Police Command issued a warrant for the arrest of Odoh and nine of his supporters on suspicion of murder.
Remember that thugs allegedly murdered HRH (Eze) Igboke Ewa, the traditional leader of Umuezeokaoha community in the state’s Ezza North Local Government Area, last week because he supported “a specific” political party. Odoh is a native of the same neighborhood.
The APGA candidate for governor was implicated in the monarch’s demise by the Ebonyi State Government. He has categorically refuted the accusation, affirming that the late traditional ruler was his father and a supporter, and asserting that it is absurd to connect him to the heinous occurrence.
“My attention has been drawn to a publication by the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, in a letter; AZ: 5200/EBS/DFA/PPRO/VOL.8/249 dated 06/03/2023 and I wish to state and react as follows,” he said in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Abakaliki on Monday.
The Chairman of Ezza Traditional Rulers, HRH Ezeogo Igboke Ewa, was assassinated, and I want to express my my condolences to the family for their very tragic, painful, and loss. Nevertheless, I also want to restate my earlier media statements that I have absolutely NO IDEA about the incident.
“That the accusations made against me in the aforementioned publication are all wholly untrue in all relevant respects; they are vicious, unfounded, and fabricated, and the general public should completely reject them. In Nigeria, a person is still presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court with appropriate jurisdiction.
“That the individuals indicated in the aforementioned letter as being sought are APGA supporters/members from my Umuezeokaoha community, just as APGA has followers in all communities and polling places throughout the 13 LGAs of Ebonyi state,” the statement said.
I don’t interact with them in any other ways than the fact that some of them view me as their mentor and role model because I’m a successful and urbane guy.
“That the police and other security services are prohibited from harassing me or detaining me until the matter brought before the court is resolved by the court, and I have already secured an Order from the High Court, Owerri in No: HOW/194/2023 on March 3, 2023 prohibiting such behavior.
“That the court order has been properly served to the IGP and other security services. After receiving the abovementioned ruling, the IG immediately ceased any further activity in the matter with regard to the Court, but the CP Ebonyi State, who is under the IG, proceeded to do so in violation of the Court’s decision.
“Furthermore, the Family of Late Eze filed a lawsuit in Suit Number HBA/47MC/2023 alleging that the CP Ebonyi State compromised by failing to arrest me and that despite the fact that the Ebonyi High Court has not reached a decision on the matter, the CP Ebonyi State has continued to act regarding the currently pending matter.
“That I am pursuing and seeking the settlement of the false and misleading claims brought against me by legal and peaceful ways, and that I am not on the run and cannot be claimed to be on the run for any reason whatsoever. ”
That the accusations are politically driven and meant to harm my chances of winning the governor’s race in Ebonyi State this coming Saturday, in which I am the front-runner.
In order to win the upcoming gubernatorial election and free our people from the ongoing continual harassment and intimidation, Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh urges his followers in Ebonyi State and elsewhere to remain calm, focused, and resolute.
I conclude by praying that the Lord Almighty would continue to give us the knowledge, grace, and capability to manage this key and important period of our campaigns and inspire us to a resounding triumph!
