The 70-year-old mother of Usman Gambo, a former aide to the wife of elder statesman and former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, has called for her son?s release after his arrest over allegations of theft and attempted arson.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the mother, Memuna Ugoji, said her son was innocent of the charges related to missing gold and foreign currency of Nwobodo?s wife, Felicia.

Ugoji said, ?I have been very sick since I was told he was arrested. I am not sure if the sickness is not what will make me lose my life.

?I gave birth to him; he has never stolen from anyone. The police have been to his house in Abia and did not find out anything. I swear to God, he didn?t steal the missing gold or dollars. They should please release him. ?

But the police said the suspect was detained based on court order.

A petition by Gambo?s legal representative, J.J. Momoh obtained on Saturday, alleged that his client was arrested on July 5, 2025, in Aba, Abia State, and transferred to the Force Intelligence Department of the SRT office in Guzape, Abuja.

The petition claimed that the arrest followed allegations from Gambo?s aunt and former employer, the wife of Senator Nwobodo.

It accused the police of subjecting Gambo to unlawful detention and torture, and refusing to grant him bail despite the provision of a level 14 surety.

The petition further stated that after lawyers got involved, the bail condition was raised to two level 16 officers, which the legal team described as ?a blatant display of abuse of power.?

?It is our brief that on or about the 5th day of July 2025, our client was arrested at Aba in Abia State and brought to Maitama police station from where he was again transferred to the Force Intelligence Department of the SRT office at their Guzape office (Abattoir).

?Our client?s said arrest, unlawful detention and dehumanisation was as a result of the malicious allegations of conspiracy, theft and attempted arson levied against him by his aunt and former employer ? wife of the revered elder states man, Jim Nwobodo, who has chosen to use the police to settle family scores.

?The policemen involved have, however, taken side by adjudging our client guilty and as such unlawfully detaining, torturing and refusing to either charge him to court or release him on bail.

?More charging was that, the said policemen requested for a level 14 officer to take him on bail but refused to so release him upon the provision of the said level 14 officer. They further became more infuriated that as solicitors, we were invited and got involved to demand for our client?s bail and in a blatant display of abuse of power maliciously varied the terms of bail to two level 16 officers.?

The legal team has urged the police leadership to intervene, either by releasing Gambo on bail to a reliable surety or charge him to court if investigations indicate that he had a case to answer.

As of the time of this report, the police had yet to respond to the allegations.

The force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Gambo?s detention was legal, adding that he would be taken to court on Monday (tomorrow)

?He is being detained on court order. The offence is arson. They set ablaze the house and looted and he was involved in the case. They are going to be charged to court on Monday,? he stated.

When contacted, Felicia Nwobodo, wife of former Governor of old Anambra State and elder statesman, Senator Jim Nwobodo, described her cousin and former aide, Usman Gambo, as a ?criminal,? accusing him of repeated theft and orchestrating a fire incident that destroyed her home.

In an interview on Saturday, Felicia, who confirmed her familial ties to Gambo, said she had supported him for years but could no longer remain silent over the extent of the alleged damage.

?I would ask you to go to the police. I don?t want to say anything,? she said initially, but later added, ?Usman, you are talking about is my cousin. I trained him in the university. His mother and my mother are related. I have been carrying that family but Usman is the worst criminal you can ever meet. Usman has been stealing and we?ve been forgiving him.?

Felicia alleged that Gambo had repeatedly stolen from her husband, Nwobodo.

?He stole my husband?s money several times. He will cry and beg and I will forgive him. The last one we travelled, on the way as he was seeing my husband off, he opened his briefcase and took money,? she added.

Felicia further claimed that her house was set on fire and valuable items accumulated over four decades were lost.

According to her, Gambo introduced a security guard who was later arrested by police in connection with the incident.

?The security man here was arrested. Usman brought him. Did he tell you that they came to search the security man?s house and got one of my gold trinkets? They asked the security man, he said it was one of the ones Usman gave him. Go to the police, they will show you the exhibit,? she said.

Felicia also accused Gambo of directing the security man to start the fire.

?Usman had the heart to set my house on fire. He told the gate man to put the house on fire. If you hear the detail, I don?t want to go into all those things. It?s painful,? she said. (Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)

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