By CHARLES IWUOHA

Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, on Friday, March 10, 2023, ordered the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Faleye Olaleye, to commence a thorough and independent investigation into the killing of the late Chairman of Ezza Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Highness, Ezeogo Christopher Igboke Ewa.

Justice Ngene, however, restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Faleye Olaleye, and other security agencies in the state, from arresting or harassing the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Benard Odoh.

Recall that Odoh, who is standing for election in the forthcoming governorship poll, was declared “wanted” by the Police in connection with the murder of Ezza monarch, Ezeogo Ewa.

Reports had it that one of the sons of the slain monarch, Prince Igboke Collins Emeka, dragged the former Secretary to Ebonyi State Government (SSG), Prof. Odoh and nine others, who were allegedly fingered in the murder of their father, to State High Court 1, sitting in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

Recall also, that the late monarch, who doubled as the Chairman of Ezza Traditional Rulers Council, was murdered penultimate Monday night at his palace by unknown assassins.

The applicant, Prince Igboke, had prayed the court for an Order of Mandamus directing the CP and IGP to immediately arrest Prof. Odoh to answer to the allegation of his involvement in the murder of HRH, Ezeogo Ewa.

But Counsel to Prof. Odoh, led by C.K. Okorie, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the application.

Justice Ngene, after hearing the motion for jurisdiction and the substantive suit, ordered that the Police should first do a thorough and independent investigation into the complaint and, if anybody is found culpable of the alleged murder, such person should be arrested.

The court, however, refused to order for the arrest of Prof. Odoh as prayed by the applicants

Responding to the ruling, one of the Counsel to the 1st defendant, (Odoh); Petrus Elechi, applauded the court for not allowing itself to be used as a tool for political witch-hunt.

He expressed joy that the court stood on the path of the rule of law wherein it ordered that the Police should carry out a thorough and independent investigation into the matter before moving for the arrest of anyone found culpable.