The Owelle of Onicha-Olona, Chief Jerry Nkewheshe, through his legal counsel, Kelechi Nnadi has given a 14 day ultimatum to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda and the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, to withdraw a statement issued by the Command alleging that the traditional ruler led armed men who reportedly killed three youths in Okwe community near Asaba.
Nnadi said a legal action is being considered against the Commissioner of Police and the PPRO should they fail to withdraw the statement.
Addressing the press in Asaba on Wednesday, Nnadi Esq, said he was responding to a publication and press statement issued by Mr Edafe, which named Chief Nkeweshe as a suspect in the incident arising from a land dispute.
The lawyer insisted that his client was not in Okwe, Asaba or anywhere around the area on the day of the incident, adding that he left to attend to his health at Umunede.
According to him, the current development represents another attempt to damage his client’s reputation.
“This is not the second time the Commissioner of Police is attempting and doing this in the territory of the totalitarian image of my client. I will not allow this to slide,” he said.
“We are going to take action against the Commissioner of Police for defamation and for framing him in a manner which he is criminally responsible and complicit,” he warned.
“We are going to write to him to retract this publication within 14 days, failure of which we are going to sue him and sue Bright Edafe apart from taking other actions before the Police Service Commission.”
He expressed concern that the allegation could put his client’s life in danger.
“Is that how to police a state? You go to press and put a man’s life in harm’s way. The family of those who died may target this man and kill him, accusing him when he never did any such thing.”
The lawyer called on journalists to investigate the true ownership of the disputed land and verify claims independently, noting that the matter is already before the court.
“There is no connection whatever with the land. We are in court over that issue. Let the Commissioner of Police provide the killers.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had not issued a fresh response to the lawyer’s claims.
The killings in Okwe have continued to heighten tension, with residents and stakeholders calling for a transparent investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.
