By Okey Maduforo Awka
An Awka based businessman Mr Ikenna Ezeume and the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA Anocha Bar Mr Jideofor Okongwu are currently on war path following allegations that Ezeume led him alleged hoodlums to a home in Neni community in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state to rob a family of the sum of N100,000.00 and also raped a fifteen years old virgin while inflicting matchet injuries on a member of the family.
According to Ezeume the allegations against him were false adding that the police had carried out investigations on the matter and found him innocent.
He contended that Bar Jideofor Okongwu have been after him laying false allegations against him and marlinging the image of his family.
He noted that the legal practitioner has been after him in order to cover up what he called certificate foggery allegations against him .
“We have a father of Anambra state Prof Charles Soludo who listens to his children”
“I have suffered not only humiliation financial loses time and all sorts of intimidation from this suspended lawyer using the police to intimidate me so that I cannot get justice on his forgery allegations”
“I want the governor, Commissioner of Police and all the necessary authorities to look critically into this allegations of not only the deferment and armed robbery but the forgery aspect of it and these allegations of armed robbery and defilement were staged by the suspended lawyer Okongwu because they cannot say somebody that said that they defiled her on Sunday morning was not rushed to the hospital get the siemen of the person that deferred her and get the true person that did that ”
“They are just accusing an innocent soul behind bars for him to cover up and get away from the allegations of forgery against him ”
“He was suspended for three years which would expire in the next year ”
“When the investigation reports have cleared me that I am innocent the police started giving me my phone after being in destination for twelve days and I cannot make calls on my own because I will have to put my phone on speak out ” he alleged.
Reacting to these allegations Bar Jideofor Okongwu stated that;
“My name is Bar Jideofor Okongwu from Enugu Adazi village in Neni community”
“I am a practicing lawyer for over twenty years now I was the Chairman of NBA Anocha branch, I was the Chairman of Chairmen of all eight branches of NBA in Anambra state”
“I was the lawyer that delivered a speech as Chairman of Chairmen when the Court of Appeal was opened in Awka “he said.
Reacting to the allegations of foggery Okongwu contended that;
“That is the story by challatants and I cannot respond to such stories ”
“I don’t have to react to the propaganda of challatants and what I am telling you is that I am a practicing lawyer”
On the allegations of rape and armed robbery, Okongwu stated that;
“The man you are talking about was arrested by the Police upon the complaint of some persons in my village that he brought some boys to my village dead in the night and attacked them beat them up raped the lady there and use a match to cut the arm of one of them and also took their money , N100,000.00”
“One of them carried out the rape and not him but if you were in the company of the hoodlums that committed crime , it is called conspiracy in law and everyone is culpable and that is how he got involved in the matter”
He explained that he got into the matter as the Chairman of the community adding that being in that position it is incumbent on him to save members of his community.
He explained that the genesis of the issues between him and Ikenna Ezeume is as a result of the father and others claiming autonomous Community to be carved out from the Neni community which he said is illegal.
