By Tony Adibe
The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Uzuegbu concerning what it regarded as the “unlawful arrest and unlawful continuous detention” of Mr Augustine Ogbonna Nnamani at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Enugu Police Command.
The petition entitled, “UNLAWFUL ARREST AND CONTINUOUS UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF MR. AUGUSTINE OGBONNA NNAMANI AT THE ANTI-KIDNAPPING BASE AT THE INSTIGATION OF CHIEF LAWRENCE NWOBODO OVER A CIVIL TRANSACTION,” dated Thursday, June 6, 2024, was signed by the CRRAN President, Olu Omotayo, Esq.
Omotayo said that Ogbonna Nnamani, was arrested and detained by the Police since 31st May 2024, based on false accusation of kidnapping made against him by Chief Nwobodo. CRRAN condemned in an unequivocal term the action of Chief Nwobodo in using the instrumentality of the police to punish and deny this poor citizen of his rights and the subsequent unlawful arrest and detention of Ogbonna Nnamani.
“We submit that the transaction between Mr. Augustine Ogbonna Nnamani and Chief Nwobodo, is purely civil matter involving a seller of property and the agent who helped him to get a buyer to buy his property,” said the civil rights body, adding that the matter has no bearing whatsoever with kidnapping.
The CRRAN President advised the commissioner of police, in the interest of justice and fair play, to take a critical look at the matter in order to enable the detainee regain his freedom unconditionally.
“We urge you in the interest of justice to look into this matter with a view to secure the immediate unconditional release of Mr. Ogbonna Nnamani, from his place of unlawful detention,” said Omotayo, who quickly added: “We submit that this is purely a civil transaction.”
The petition reads: “We write to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of Augustine Ogbonna Nnamani, a tailor who also works as part-time land agent at his shop, No.7, Amawbia Street, Uwani, Enugu.
“We were informed of his arrest and detention at Anti Kidnapping Base, Enugu, at the instigation of Chief Lawrence Nwobodo, over a civil transaction. Ogbonna Nnamani, was arrested and detained by the Police since 31st May 2024, based on false accusation of kidnapping made against him by Chief Nwobodo.
“According to Ogbonna, sometimes in the month of April 2023, Chief Nwobodo approached him at his shop at Amawbia Street, Uwani, Enugu, to help him get a buyer for his property situates at No.7, Amawbia Street, Uwani, Enugu. Chief Nwobodo told Ogbonna, that he wanted to sell the property at the price of N20,000,000: 00K (Twenty million naira only), but if Ogbonna can get a buyer to buy at N26,000 000 : 00K (Twenty six million naira only) he will pay him the sum of N5,000 000 :00K (Five million naira only) as commission.
“Thereafter sometimes in the month of June 2023, Ogbonna got a buyer Mr. Osita Nwobodo, who agreed to buy the property at N26,000 000: 00K (Twenty six million naira only). As a result of this, Ogbonna arranged a meeting sometimes in June 2023, at his shop between the buyer Mr. Osita Nwobodo, and Chief Nwobodo.
“The buyer Mr. Osita Nwobodo, agreed at the meeting to buy the property at N26,000 000: 00K (Twenty-six million naira only), but will make payment to Chief Nwobodo in the 2nd week of July 2023. When the time for the payment of the property reached, Chief Nwobodo went at the back of Ogbonna, to collect payment from the buyer and refused picking Ogbonna’s phone calls. The property was eventually sold to Mr. Osita Nwobodo, and he has since taken possession.
“However Chief Nwobodo, after the conclusion of the sale refused to pay Ogbonna the agreed fee of N5,000 000 :00K (Five million naira only) for his services in facilitating the sale of the property in accordance with the parties’ agreement, despite repeated demands. Indeed, when Ogbonna persisted in demanding for the commission, Chief Nwobodo resorted to blackmail by accusing Ogbona of threatening him.
“In other to forestall Chief Nwobodo lodging any false report to the Police, Ogbonna preemptively reported this case to their Town Union meeting since he and Chief Nwobodo, are from the same community named Ihunekwagu Ndiuzu, Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government, Enugu State. We were further informed that at the General meeting of Ihunekwagu Ndiuzu, Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government, Enugu State, held on the 6th October 2023, at Ndiuzu Town Hall, Akpugo, at 10:00AM, the General meeting presided over by the Igwe of the community, His Royal Highness Igwe Boniface Nkwor, entertained the case between Ogbonna and Chief Nwobodo.
“After listening to Ogbonna and Chief Nwobodo, the meeting resolved and condemned the attitude of Chief Nwobodo in the transaction and mandated him to pay the sum of N5,000 000:00K (Five million naira only) to Ogbonna, and further warned Chief Nwobodo not to ever call Ogbonna a 419 or thief again. Chief Nwobodo, refused to pay Ogbonna the sum of N5,000 000 :00K (Five million naira only) representing the fees for his services in facilitating the sale of the property in accordance with the parties’ agreement.
“Ogbonna thereafter in November 2023, instituted an action against Chief Nwobodo at the Enugu State High Court in Suit No: E/1021/2023, Augustine Ogbonna Nnamani Vs. Chief Lawrence Nwobodo, wherein he claimed among other things:
1. N5,000 000 :00K (Five million naira only) representing the fees for his services in facilitating the sale of the property situates at No.7, Amawbia Street, Uwani, Enugu.
2) N15,000 000 :00K (Fifteen Million Naira) representing general damages.
“Chief Nwobodo has recently made a case of kidnapping against Ogbonna, which led to his arrest since 31st May 2024, and continued detention at the Anti Kidnapping Base Enugu, till date.”
