An Umuahia high court says that the traditional ruler of Ipupe autonomous community in Ubakala, Umuahia south local government area of Abia state, His Royal Highness, Eze (Captain) Bob Chima Ubiaru and one Ikeagwula Patrick Ubiaru have cases to answer over the N60million Niger Delta Power Holdings Ltd paid to Ipupe autonomous community for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest called Okata of Ipupe community which the royal father allegedly diverted to his personal use.
Eze Bob and Patrick were arraigned before an Umuahia high court on a 7-count charge of conferring corrupt advantage on himselve contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the corrupt practices and other related Act, 2000; dealing with part of the property which was the subject matter of an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 of the corrupt practices and other related offences Act, 2000; stealing contrary to section 383 (1) and punishable under section 390(9) of the criminal code laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and making false entry with intent to conceal a crime contrary to section 15(a) and punishable under section 68 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act 2000.
A summons letter signed by Adesina Raheem Esq of ICPC headquarters, Abuja reference HU/360/2013 dated December 12, 2013 stated in part that Eze Bob Ubiaru April 2011 at Ubakala, Umuhia south local government of Abia state “did use your position as Eze of Ipupe autonomous community of Ubakala, Umuahia south local government of Abia state to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by converting to his use N40million out of N60million Niger Delta Power Holding Ltd paid to Ipupe autonomous community for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest called Okata of Ipupe community.
The charge also alleged that Eze Bob Ubiaru on or March 2011 at Ubakala Umuhia south local government of Abia state entered into a dealing in relation to part of the property which was subject of an offence to lodging in a fixed deposit account at First Bank Plc the sum of N10million which is part of N40million he converted out of N60million Niger Delta Power Holdings Ltd paid to Ipupe autonomous community for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest called Okata of Ipupe community.
The summons further accused Eze Bob Ubiaru of on or before April 2011, at Ubakala Umuhia south local government of Abia state used a property to wit N1million to settle his personal debt which is part of N40million he converted out of N60million Delta Power Holdings Ltd paid to Ipupe autonomous community for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest called Okata of Ipupe community.
The traditional ruler was equally accused of using a property to wit N1.9million to settle his personal debt which is part of N40million he converted out of N60million Delta Power Holdings Ltd paid to Ipupe autonomous community for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest called Okata of Ipupe community.
Eze Bob Chioma Ubiaru, according to National WAVES investigation,s had instead of answering to these charges escaped to the Force CID at Area 10 Garki-Abuja in a purported case of conspiracy, attempted murder, arson, threatening violence, conduct likely to cause a break down of law and order against his people. However, luck ran out of the Eze when on Monday, January 20, 2014 he had caused the elderly people from the nine villages that make up his kingdom to be invited to Abuja again, not knowing that the ICPC operatives were there on hands with his kinsmen to pick him up to Umuahia to answer his cases.
However, he was granted bail on sum of N10million and his surety who must be a traditional ruler in like sum.
My Son is Not a Thief, Mr. Jato Tells Police
A father and security guard with the M.I. Systems Wuse II, Abuja, Mr. Daniel Jato has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to intervene in the continued detention of his son, Mr. Fredrick Daniel since September 7, 2013, at SARS Detention Camp, Abattoir, Area 11, Garki-Abuja for an alleged armed robbery.
Mr. Fredrick Daniel aged 23 hails from Jamma’a local government area of Kaduna state, National WAVES gathered, is a Dry Cleaner at Lake Crescent Hotel, Jabi-Abuja. He was arrested on September 7, 2013 for an alleged armed robbery by the police in Life Camp. The case was thereafter transferred to the state CID after Life Camp police preliminary investigations into the matter, and since then, nothing has been heard of the matter until when the suspect’s father raised an alarm over the safety of his son in police custody and his deplorable health condition.
Mr. Jato alleged that his son had on that fateful day, gone to eat at a canteen very close to a chemist where the armed robbers were operating. From there Mr. Jato further narrated that his son joined other residents who were chasing the thieves. Unfortunately Mr. Jato continued that the alleged suspect picked a suite dropped by one of the fleeing robbers, not knowing that there was a pistol inside it which fell down.
According to him, when the angry youths in the area saw it, they pounced on him and called on the police to arrest him to explain how he came about the pistol. Since then, he said his son has not been left off the hook irrespective of the fact that the real armed robbers took to their heels. He informed National WAVES that his son before the incident was serving a Whiteman as a Dry Cleaner in a hotel in Jabi and that his son never had any time with miscreants.
Also speaking to National WAVES on the incident, one of the suspect’s brothers, Mr. Labari Jamma’a, said he stays with the suspect in the same room at Angwa Cement before the incident, pointing out that the suspect is not an armed robber and had never stolen from any person before.
He pleaded with the police to have a rethink on the matter with a view to grant Fredrick Daniel his freedom. He challenged them to make more enquiries of the person they are holding from Angwa Cement residents to ascertain the actual character of the person in their custody. Mr. Labari Jamma’a, who is a businessman at Kado Fish Market, narrated how the suspect met his waterloo which corroborated with what the father said.
National WAVES in an exclusive with the command’s PPRO, DSP Hyehira Altine Daniel on the matter, said though she is not aware of the incident, but maintained that common sense will show that what the father of the suspect narrated is not true and promised to send for the case file from the CID section to know what exactly happened.
