By Hamilton Uchechukwu
As a media follow up to the reported arrest and detention of Mr. Augustine Odidika and his brothers as alleged suspects over the murder of one Barr. Nwowu Chinedu in the night hours of 22nd, January 2025, the Pontius Pilate may reportedly drop the charges for lack of evidence, while the seemingly false complainants have now been penciled for arrest and investigation for alleged conspiracy, breaking and entering, stealing, malicious damage, threat to life/ properties and conducts likely to cause the breach of peace.
Grapevine cum investigative reports reveal that immediately the popular lawyer was assassinated in Mgbdi, by the unknown gunmen, the alleged village enemies to Mr. Odidika, conspiringly hurried to police station and accused him as the criminal actor. Their statements reportedly narrate that, inspector Augustine personally fired the renowned lawyer to death.
“To look before you leap is surely a costly adage”.
The Police, the crime journalists, the lawyers and as officers in the temple of justice, quickly moved into action in a commendable professional manner. The state leadership of the People’s Democratic Party also issued a Press Release because the diseased, was reportedly the party legal adviser in Oru West. They made a statement without accussing anybody.
Under the Nigeria Law, chapter two of the criminal code and chapter four and five of the penal code ,provide parties to an offence. Section 7 of the criminal code provides that when an offence is committed, every person who actually does or makes the omission which constitutes the offence, is deemed to have taken part in committing the offence and may be charged. Every person who does or omits any act for the purpose of enabling or aiding another person to commit the offence, will be charged. Every person who aids another person committing the offence, may also be charged. Any person who counsels or procures any other person to commit the offence, may also be charged. In the ongoing trial, the complainant ,Mr Benson and others goofs by allegedly stating that their witnesses cannot appear in a case, as serious as murder. That the police should admit anonymous witnesses? The supreme court held that no one should be convicted of a crime unless, some measure of subjective fault can be attributed to him.
Contrary to the allegations against inspector Augustine Odidika, Some people the area, including a little school girl of 12years old, and a clergy have confessed to the police and journalists that inspector Augustine, is innocent of the accusation. That they were all together with Mr. Augustine, Odidika before and after the ugly scenario.
While the complainants, were deliberately hiding from police, that the same unknown gunmen abducted and killed another man within the same time, and location, gathered reports show that one Mr. Odika was also a victim as earlier published. His wife also reported at Mgbidi Police station without accusing Mr. Augustine and brothers.
Fielding questions from newsmen on the consequences of trying to vilify an innocent person on grounds of enemity, the diapora Secretary of a group known as Concerned Imo Citizens For Justice and Equity, Amb. Ben Ikem, stated that they have been watching the proceedings and how the homicide Unit of the Imo State Police Command has been commendably conducting themselves in fairness and integrity as to unveil the true perpetrators of the act. He admonishes that at the end, Mr. Odidika should however know that, ” to err is human, and to forgive is divine”.
