Murder Of Igwes: RULAAC Demands Soludo’s Response To Allegations On Emeakayi’s Complicity
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a Civil Society Organisation has called on the Anambra government to respond to the allegations against Chief Kenneth Emeakayi on the murder of Late Barnabas Igwe and his pregnant wife, Abigail.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, the Executive Director, of
RULAAC made the call in a Statement following the revelation by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu that the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC) set up by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo indicted Emeakayi.
Nwanguma said it was difficult to understand why Soludo found it difficult to deal reasonably with the controversy surrounding the appointment of Emeakayi as his Special Adviser on Security.
He said it was not an issue of whether Emeakayi was guilty of the murder of former NBA Chairman, Onitsha Branch, and his pregnant wife as it was to be established by a competent court after due process.
He said the reasonable response was neither to pronounce Emeakayi guilty nor to simply dismiss the allegations.
“The issue is that the ATJPC established by the state government, reportedly identified serious unresolved questions concerning the killing and recommended that the case be reopened.
“Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who chaired the Commission, has now publicly raised concerns about Emeakayi’s alleged connection to the matter,” he said.
Nwanguma said if evidence did not support prosecution, it should be established transparently and that if there was sufficient evidence, the appropriate prosecutorial authorities should be activated for action.
He said the Anambra government should do the needful because keeping mum over such heavy and unresolved allegations against the man at the centre of its security architecture put a question mark on the system.
The Executive Director said Soludo did not have to fight Odinkalu or agree with him, but he owed the people of Anambra an explanation of what his government did with the recommendations of its own Truth, Justice and Peace Commission.
According to him, this does not violate the presumption of innocence, it and protects the integrity of the process.
“The Igwe killings are not merely an old political controversy, they represent a painful chapter in Anambra’s history and an unfinished demand for justice.
“The families deserve answers, Emeakayi deserves due process and the people deserve a government that is prepared to confront difficult questions rather than avoid them.
“The best way out is simple: investigate, establish the facts, respect due process and, where responsibility is established, hold the responsible persons accountable,” he said.
