By Onuchukwu Hamilton
The cell section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Imo Police Command Owerri, reportedly turned into a theater of blames and apologies last Friday being 7th, as one Mr. Ogbuji(ASP) of the Homicide Unit insisted that the detained Police Special Intervention Squad(SIS) inspector, Mr. Augustine Odidika will not come out from the cell and see his pregnant wife that brought food and personal hygiene items.
While the pregnant wife to the Inspector , was profusely crying to draw the attention of CP Danjuma, the Inspector on one side, alleges complicities against the said ASP Ogbuji, and weeps that, since over one month of his detention on the unsubstantiated Homicide offence, Mr. Ogbuji and few others, have been subjecting him to cruelty and inhuman treatment.
When the OC Homicide, contacted ASP Ogbuji and requested to know why he must stop the police Inspector from seeing his pregnant wife, he told him on phone that the inspector insulted him but the OC Homicide however re-ordered him to allow her to see the husband and deliver the food and the items to him.
ASP Ogbuji should psychologically understand that no innocent mindset, will allow himself to be subjected to any iota of torture or kept in a cell stuffed with many suspects whose faecal and urinary matters often litter the floor and smears the wall, making toileting quite disgusting for those under irresistible bowel or bladder pressure. Maggots and cockroaches which parade the cell rooms, also act as disease vectors.
In line with the Nigeria Police Act, the IGP, has warned that all persons, deprived of their liberty, shall be treated with humanity, and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. If ASP Ogbuji wishes to raise the issue of insult, the Police Act states that ,measures for discipline and punishment shall be effected in line with set rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, you may recall that inspector Augustine Odidika has been accused of murder by few persons he had earlier dragged to police and still under investigation, over a land dispute. Since his incarceration on the 23rd of January, the complainants could not provide a true witness nor any evidence to substantiate their claims. The concerned Imo citizens have requested that the said complainants should be arrested for failed efforts to deceive the Police.
Independent witnesses around the crime scene, including the official statement of one Anglican priest in the area, have proofed that the Police inspector is innocent.
CP Aboki Danjuma is a man of honesty, justice, trust, bound by conscience and liberated by accountability.
