The PUNCH Correspondent in Anambra State, Mr. Tony Okafor, was on Monday arrested BY the police following a petition written against him and seven others to the state Police Commissioner, Mr. John Abang, by a former lecturer of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who was recently relieved of his appointment by the University.

The former lecturer, Dr Peter Ekemezie, was in a recent report published by The PUNCH newspaper exposed for allegedly using forged credentials to obtain a PhD certificate in the institution.

Following the publication, the management of the institution set up a panel to investigate the matter which subsequently led to the sack of the lecturer.

The institution’s Registrar, Barr Philomena Okoye, in a letter of dismissal in June ordered the indicted lecturer to immediately hand over all the institution’s property and to also not return to the institution except with the express permission of the Vice Chancellor.

According to The PUNCH Correspondent, he was arrested around noon at Aroma by policemen, on the order of the said lecturer.

In his reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said that Okafor was not arrested but only called in for questioning.

“The reporter was only invited by the police after the indicted former lecturer, Ekemezie, wrote a petition against him to the police commissioner in the state.

“There was a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police against one Mr. Tony Okafor, and seven other persons.

“The Police invited Mr. Okafor for interview to ascertain the veracity of the complaint against him.

“Tony Okafor was never detained by the Police; that’s why he is still using his handset to communicate.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed that I should find out the circumstances surrounding the incident from the OC in charge of the case and feed him back immediately.

“I have contacted the OC and he stated that the officer handling the case will come and give Mr Tony Okafor the petition to go through to enable him respond.

“I have equally contacted Mr. Okafor and assured him that he will be granted bail as soon as the IPO comes back and investigation will continue. I will keep you posted on any further development please.”

At the time of filing this report, the reporter was still being interrogated at the state police area command.

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