A Delta State gazetted High Chief Gabriel Ohai has protested to the president, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the new Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun regarding the promotion of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chike Louis Nwabuwa to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, saying he was indicted by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state for rape, murder, conspiracy and arson earlier this year.
Lawyers to High Chief Gabriel Ohai, in a letter, drew the attention of the President to the news of the promotion.
The letter reads in part: “Our client received this news with surprise, amazement, confusion, bewilderment and discombobulation. This is because ACP Chike Nwabuwa has been indicted by the Nigerian Police in a report for his participation in the crime of murder of late Peter Ohai. He is also wanted for crimes of conspiracy, arson, rape, malicious damage, and cultism. This police investigation report was sent to the office of the Attorney General for Delta State, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has found in a legal advice dated 24th of January, 2023, that he has a case to answer.
“On the 23rd of February 2023, the office of the DPP in Delta state wrote formally to the Inspector General of Police via the CP Delta requesting the release of ACP Chike Louis Nwabuwa for his trial.
“The letter was titled “NOTICE OF OUR INTENTION TO PROSECUTE A.C.P LOUIS CHIKE NWABUA (M). The reference number of the letter is REF NO: DTMJ.3/6/110544/57. We understand from the office of the CP DELTA now, AIG Zone 2, Lagos, that this request from the DPP in Delta State was communicated to the office of the Inspector General of Police.
“It is against this background that has created the surprise to our client as to the basis of the promotion of ACP CHIKE LOUIS NWABUWA when he is facing such serious crimes for which he is to face trial. What message is the Police sending to the Nigerian public when it promotes an officer who has been indicted to face such serious crimes?”.
Chief Gabriel Ohai ended his letter by requesting that the promotion decision if true be reversed and for the IGP to expedite action to comply with the request of the Director of Public Prosecution of Delta State in releasing ACP Nwabuwa to the DPP Delta State to face trial for the offenses for which he has been charged.
When contacted to comment on his letter, Chief Ohai confirmed the contents and stated that he was in Abuja to meet with all relevant agencies of government to press home the importance of his letter.
According to him, the new IGP should demonstrate a complete lack of tolerance for any criminal act by any serving police officer.
He urged the IGP to distance the police from the bad eggs in the police and for him to release Nwabuwa to stand his trial in order for justice to prevail.
Reacting to the letter by lawyers of Chief Ohai, the police officer said he was not guilty of any offence.
“I was not at the scene of any crime. My boys did not carry out those acts. It was done by the community. Our brothers in the diaspora have tried to intervene. It’s a community matter. People promised to build his house that was destroyed, but he was laying claims to billions of naira. He wrote his own brother’s name as one of those that burnt his house. I am sure that at the end of it, the issue will be resolved amicably.
“They want to smear my name and dent my career. The whole matter is in God’s hand. No one has said that I sent them. They did all they could to include my name in that report as one of those guilty of the crime. I don’t want to take the matter personal.”
