The TAEUN Ambassadors for Change have formally petitioned the Nigerian police regarding the alleged kidnapping and unexplained disappearance of Francis Ekene Ugbah, which occurred on November 2, 2023.
The petition claims that Ugbah’s abduction was orchestrated by individuals, including Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Onyema Okonjo, who are accused of engaging in violent land-grabbing activities in the Ogwashi-Uku community of Delta State.
In their statement released on Sunday, the petition alleged that these individuals have essentially taken the law into their own hands, forcibly seizing land from owners and aiming to sell it at inflated prices. “The landowners who protested against these unlawful seizures were met with violence and intimidation,” the petition asserts.
In response to the growing climate of fear, community members sought police assistance, only to find that some had been arrested on what the petition describes as “fabricated charges” in collusion with the accused individuals.
The petition emphasizes that several community leaders are currently embroiled in legal battles, facing unfounded murder accusations. The Okonjo brothers are purportedly claiming that “no justice could be sought” because of their alleged connections to the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Furthermore, it alleges that Ugbah’s family has been unable to trace his whereabouts due to a “conspiracy involving the NSA’s office and the Okonjos, who believe they are untouchable.”
Efforts to engage with the Delta State police command and the AIG Zone 5 in Benin City regarding Ugbah’s case have proven fruitless, as “higher-ups have impeded legal proceedings.”
In collaboration with other advocacy groups, the TAEUN Ambassadors are calling for specific actions, including:
- A directive from Malam Nuhu Ribadu for the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Ugbah’s disappearance to “prove his innocence” and to prevent individuals of questionable character from tarnishing his reputation.
- An urgent full-scale investigation by the Inspector General of Police to ascertain Ugbah’s status, whether alive or deceased.
- The removal of DIG Alabi, who allegedly obstructed the investigation, for “brazenly perverting justice.”
- A thorough investigation of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and Prince Onyema Okonjo, with recommendations for arrest and prosecution if found guilty of murder and crimes against the residents of Ogwashi-Uku.
The petition concludes with a plea for police support for the Delta State government’s initiative to establish a panel of inquiry, with a request that the final findings be disclosed for the benefit of the Ogwashi-Uku community and the public at large.
The TAEUN Ambassadors expressed their hope for swift justice and have offered to provide documents from community attorneys detailing serious allegations against the accused individuals.
The statement further notes, “The landowners protesting against these criminal activities faced violent reprisals from the alleged perpetrators, who acted with impunity. Many community members were arrested on fabricated charges in coordination with local police.”
The situation has led to a troubling environment of fear within the community. “Numerous court cases are pending, with leaders facing baseless murder charges. Even when legal actions are taken to secure their release, the Okonjos boast that they cannot be touched due to their connections with the National Security Adviser,” the statement reveals.
The ongoing turmoil reached a critical point with the abduction of Francis Ekene Ugbah on November 2, and his family’s search for him has yielded no results, further deepening the community’s concerns about the alleged conspiracy involving powerful figures.
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