By Amos Igbebe
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, is currently battling to rescue her face from an alleged bribery scandal which unconfirmed sources say was giving to her by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, purportedly to seal her lips and the police in the state so as to fast track the release of a murder suspect, one Innocent Esewezie.
Innocent Esewezie was accused of allegedly murdering one Emeka Onianwa during the April 11 governorship and House of House of Assembly elections in the state.
Facts emerging from sources in the state police headquarters revealed that Kalu was bribed by Okowa to cover up the deal and thereby fastrack the release of the suspect who played significant role in the election of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State.
Esewezie, who was former Transition Committee Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, in connection with Fred Ajudua, who along with his wife, Princess Pat Ajudua, who is now representing Oshimili North in the state House of Assembly, were alleged to have supervised the murder of the victim.
But Kalu, in response to our investigation, said as Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, her role has nothing to do with investigation of cases as that is reserved for the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Force.
According to her, “how can I cover up cases? I do not carry out investigations into cases. The case in question was transferred to Abuja and is in the force headquarters. My role is to find out whether something happens or not. I do not investigate cases. I am the Public Relations Officer of the command. That is my job. So, I have no hand in that matter.
“As far as I am concerned, everything they are saying is rubbish. My role involves finding out whether something happens and if I’m not clear, I will tell you to let me find out and tell you later. That is my job. I’ve never seen anywhere where PRO has power to release or shield suspects from prosecution.”
However, independent investigations exonerated Kalu from being in complicity with the release of the murder suspect.
Our investigation showed that Kalu’s name was brought into play following the role she played in aiding the Governor Okowa’s access to the Police Inspector General in the Force National Headquarters.
Sources outside the state police headquarters told 247ureports.com that her role in fast tracking the governor’s efforts at having access to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja was what implicated her in the entire scenario.
Our source further said it was getting difficult for the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to access the IG, hence, the Governor demanded the assistance of the Delta Police Public Relations Officer to aid him to access the Police Inspector General for discussion on the release of the murder suspect.
But Media Assistant to the Governor, Felix Efeizomor, debunked every report attributed to the Governor in the release of the murder suspect.
Efeizomor who is the Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, representing the Print Media, told 247ureports.com that the issue at stake had nothing to do with the governor of Delta State.
Efeizmor said “we have responded to that allegation. It is not true. The Governor has nothing to do with that case. It emanated from a certain group who are bent on painting the governor’s administration in bad light. Anybody carrying such rumour is peddling lies against the Governor”.
