The Nigeria Police Force is preparing to arraign a police inspector accused of fatally shooting the traditional ruler of Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Chidiebere Emmanuel Mbah, along with one of his accomplices, after 32 months since the murder occurred.
The suspects, Inspector Daniel Denis and Chief Moses Nnamani, were presented on Wednesday and are expected to be brought to court soon, according to an insider source who informed SaharaReporters on Thursday.
The murder of Igwe Mbah has caused significant turmoil within the community, and it is believed that with the trial of the alleged perpetrators, some semblance of peace may be restored to the community.
The source stated, “Yes, I can tell you authoritatively that after SaharaReporters published the petition and subsequent reports on the developments in the community, the police authorities brought the suspects to Enugu on Wednesday to face trial for the killing of the monarch. The trial is taking place nearly three years after the traditional ruler was gruesomely murdered.”
SaharaReporters had reported on Monday, September 11, 2023, that the younger brother of the late traditional ruler, Mr. Ejike Mbah, petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urging him to intervene and ensure the prosecution of the police officer and his accomplices.
Igwe Chidiebere Emmanuel Mbah was allegedly shot and killed on December 26, 2020, by the police officer while he was addressing an annual general meeting of the community.
In a shocking revelation, it was reported last Friday that the police arrested Chief Moses Nnamani, a native of the community, who was alleged to have brought the policemen from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) based on frivolous allegations against the monarch. He purportedly paid the said killer inspector N80,000 to eliminate the traditional ruler.
Regrettably, Ejike Mbah lamented that the police had shielded the alleged killer cop from prosecution since December 26, 2020, despite the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) having concluded their investigation in 2021.
The petition, dated August 29, 2023, and signed by Efekemaraye G. Daniel Esq on behalf of Ejike Mbah, appealed for the intervention of the Attorney General in the case titled “A Letter Of Appeal For Your Intervention In A Case Of Murder Of Hrh Igwe Chidiebere Mbah The Igwe Of Oruku Autonomous Community In Nkanu East Local Government Area Of Enugu State Of Nigeria By Inspector Denis Daniel Of Sts Unit Of The Nigeria Police Since On The 26th Day Of December 2020.”
The petition was also copied to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other principal officers of the Force associated with the case. Ejike appealed for intervention to ensure that justice is served, citing the ongoing unrest in his community stemming from the vacuum created by the killing.