A 37 year-old Eze Friday, from Ebonyi State has called on concerned authorities, particularly the Ebonyi State Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene, to come to his rescue over what he described as distorted investigations following his arrest, detention, and subsequent arraignment/remand without laid down processes by the police and the Magistrate court.
In a protest titled “SAVE MY SOUL – MY REMAND AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL SERVICE CENTRE, ABAKALIKI BY THE EFFIUM MAGISTRATE COURT SITTING IN ABAKALIKI: MY FEARS, PREDICAMENTS AND PASSIONATE APPEAL” addressed to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Elvis Ngene, and copied to the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the State Commissioner of police, National Judicial Council among others, Mr Eze called on concerned authorities and other public spirited individuals to come to his aid towards redressing the pressures exerted on his person and young family by alleged distorted police investigation and court processes culminating in summary remand even when allegations levelled against him, according to his lawyer were all bailable.
Eze Friday from Oriaja, Umuogudu Akpu, Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, a GL10 staff of the Local Government System.who narrated the genesis of the family matter that metamorphosed into his recent ordeal said;
“I write to most passionately appeal for your esteemed/quick intervention in the case instituted against me by my Uncles led by Chief Attah Oselebe which led to my arrest on Friday 17th April, 2026 with a hurried arraignment on Monday 20th April, 2026 on concocted charges at the Effium Magistrate Court, sitting in the High Court premises, Abakaliki, and presided over by Magistrate Grace Chima.”
‘Since the demise of my late father, Chief Eze Oselebe Snr. in 2016, the family has remained engulfed in issues (mostly land related matters,) involving my uncles against my aged mother and my elder brothers, leading to our intermittent arrests and detention – some of the matters are still pending at the Ezzamgbo Magistrate Courts”
“On 10th April, 2026 my elder brother, Emeka Eze attended the burial of our nephew, Late Uto Elias Esheya at Ndiagu Atukpa, but was attacked by some of the family members, namely; Okey Uto, Solomon Attah Uto, Chimezie Uto etc.”
“On Sunday 12th April, 2026, (2 days after the incident), on my way to fetch water i overheard my uncles discussing the attack, and saying that more of such attacks were still coming for my elder brother, Emeka Eze and others. I confronted them and we exchanged words and the matter was later laid to rest following my aged mother’ and other people’s intervention.”
” Later that same day, after going back to Ngbo Court Area, I accompanied my elder brother, Emeka Eze to see my mother. On getting home i had one of what has become a usual altercations and exchange of words with my uncles, Jacob Oselebe, my father’s half brother and Eze Oselebe (Jnr), whom my father named me after and his wife. At this point, Elechi Gabriel Onwe and Elder Eze Agbo, all who are members of our Kindred and also members of Victory Methodist Church Nigeria, Oriaja Circuit, Ngbo intervened. Nobody was touched or beaten.”
‘Surprisingly, on Friday 17th April 2026, I was arrested in my house by men who identified themselves as police officers from Ezzamgbo police Division, they handcuffed me, and searched my house without showing me any Search Warrant. I was finally bundled to the Police Division and detained throughout the weekend without telling me orally, or showing me any petition against me.”
“At the Police Division, I pleaded with the IPO, Inspector Emeka Ngele that I should be given a grace to consult with my lawyer before making any statement since I was not shown any evidence or petition against me before/after my arrest. The IPO refused insisting that he was acting on the directives of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Ibrahim Amadu Ogu. I was mercilessly beaten up that night to compel me to make statement under duress. When I couldn’t bear the torture any more I had to yield under duress around 2am in the midnight, to save my life for the sake of my young family.”
“As people were making frantic efforts to secure my bail, all to no avail, my aged mother, Mrs Joy Oselebe and my Elder Sister, Mrs Chinwe Ogwudu went and pleaded with my uncles for peace to reign, (which they accepted).”
“On Monday, 20th, April, 2026, the IPO, Inspector Emeka Ngele told me that he was charging the matter to Effium Magistrate Court since no court sits at Ezzamgbo on Mondays. I was surprised since the IPO earlier assured my brothers that he would visit the scene of the incident but later did not. I neither had any interview with the DCO or DPO over the matter.”
“At the Effium Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Grace Chima, sitting in Abakaliki, another drama ensued. After my arraignment, my lawyer made every genuine effort to secure my bail since according him the matter is bailable and I will not jump bail since i have a reasonable surety, in the person of my immediate elder brother – Eze Douglas Uto who is a grade level 14 officer with the Universal Basic Education Board (EUBEB), Abakaliki, but the Magistrate, Mrs Chima turned down and directed that I should be remanded in the Federal Correctional Service Centre, Abakaliki, while the court adjourned to Wednesday, 22/04/2026 (two days after).”
“On 22/04/2026, the Court resumed but further adjourned to Thursday, May 7, 2026 while I continued to remain in prison custody, hence my appeal for your timely intervention.”
“I am mostly worried because those visiting me at the Correctional Centre informed me how my uncles and their children have being jubilating that I will be jailed as Magistrate Chima whose husband is a judge is on their side.”
“These reports have not only kept me in wonder and deep pain but continually made me ponder on the dramatic nature of my arrest, improvised charges, what transpired at the court’s first sitting and how I was denied bail and summarily remanded.”
Mr Eze listed his fears and predicaments to include;
“On 20/04/2026, when my wife came to feed me, my Uncle, Chief Attah Oselebe came to the police station at the Ohaukwu Police Divisional Headquarters where I was detained and told the IPO, Inspector Emeka Ngele that he had discussed with the DPO and DCO to charge the matter to Court unfailingly that same day whether investigation is concluded or not.”
“The charge sheet was headed Ohaukwu Magistrate Court holden at Ezzamgbo with the charge number BUT filed with Effium Magistrate Court Registry, with Effuim Magistrate stamp which deflates my confidence and raises concern.’
“The six count charges on which I was arraigned from the position of my lawyer are ALL within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court. My lawyer hinging on this, applied for my bail and also presented my elder brother, Eze Douglas Uto, a grade level 14 civil servant with the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board who was willing to take me on bail but the court declined the application for bail.”
“Even when my lawyer complained and pleaded for adjournment since the proof of evidence was not served on me for me to prepare my defence, the court insisted that trial should go on.”
He passionately appealed to the State Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene and other concerned authorities to come to his rescue to save his life, and those of his very young family by transferring charges against him from Effium Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Grace Chima to any other Magistrate court in Ezzamgbo, and also ensure that he gets justice.
He maintains that he had totally lost confidence in the court following its body language(s) and may be risking doom if he continues to ignore and endure the perceived hardship exerted on him and family by the matter, while still reposing his confidence on the timely action of the Chief Judge.
Efforts made by our correspondent to get reactions of concerned authorities and those of Victory Methodist Church, Oriaja yielded no fruits as some of those contacted couldn’t pick their calls, while those who picked, declined comments stating that the matter was purely a family affair with the church having no interest.
