A Lagos-based senior lawyer, Vincent Okafor has been arraigned and remanded in Nigerian Correctional Service custody by the police for allegedly promoting “local war” in his hometown, Agunese Mmaku Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The legal practitioner’s arraignment brought to three, natives of the locality currently in custody for same offence. The two other accused persons are David Okeke and Chukwu Theophilus while others are at large. Okafor’s arrest in Lagos and subsequent arraignment on Thursday in Enugu followed an Order by an Enugu Magistrate Court on a 3-count charge, bordering on “felony” and carrying out a warlike undertaking against the traditional ruler of the Community Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi and the members/indigenes of locality.
The court remanded him in custody on the basis that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case. It would be recalled that the detainees are also having a pending matter with office of the Inspector General of police that dragged them to the Federal High Court Enugu Division for giving the police false information against Igwe Nevobasi contrary to section 125A (1) (B) of the Criminal Code.
They had accused the IGP of collecting a N10million bribe from the Monarch, an allegation the police authorites denied and dragged to court with charge No. FHC/EN//CR/45/2. Their ordeal may not be unconnected with the town union election in Agunese Mmaku which was shelved by the Monarch over security reports by operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS).
Part of the charge sheet with Charge No. MEN/590C/2024 reads: “That you Vincent Okafor ‘m’ and others now at large on the 13th day of August 2024 at Agunese Mmaku in Agwu Magisterial District holden in Enugu did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Promoting Local War and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol.II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
“Count II: That you Vincent Okafor ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did without lawful authority, carry on a warlike undertaking against HRH Igwe Cyprian M. Nevobasi ‘m’ by attacking him with guns, cutlasses, axes and other dangerous weapons and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol.II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
A Source close to the Monarch’s palace who do not want his name in print while speaking to our Correspondent on the issue said: “These are people who threatened to cause violence in Mmaku community by importing unidentified armed men into the community during the town union executive election some years ago.
“When the King HRH Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi in his wisdom had to avoid violence by postponing the election on the advice of the DSS director of Awgu local government, those guys ran to the police with fictitious petitions against the King, trying to mislead the police with such fictitious petition.
“But the the police found out that these things were unfounded and malicious. They later turned around and accused the inspector general of police of collecting 10-million-naira bribe from His Royal Highness, an allegation the police didn’t find funny.
And charged them to court. However, a native of the Community who preferred to remain anonymous, said he had known the detained lawyer for years, stating that as far as he was concerned, he was being accused falsely by some wealthy powerful individuals in the locality, adding that the Barrister has a wonder pedigree in his law profession.
“He is a peaceful and complete gentleman, so, I don’t know why some persons always derive joy in making life unbearable for their fellow human being” the native said.
