• Mother cries out as rights group petitions CP, demands immediate release

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, over the detention of a Footballer, Mr. Carlo Chibuzor Osunkwo.

This came on the heels of an alarm raised by his mother, Dr. Arc. Patience Osunkwo, calling for help from members of the public.

The footballer, aged 22 years, was said to have been arrested by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, on allegations of involvement in cultism, but his family, especially his mother, described the allegation as false.

In a petition to the Anambra Commissioner of Police, the RULAAC Executive Director chronicled the testimony of the detainee’s mother, saying that her son’s detention was targeted at getting back at her husband, who opposed the nomination of a known criminal in their community, Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area from being their village leader.

The petition reads: "This petition is regarding the unlawful arrest, detention, and persecution of her son Carlo Chibuzor Osunkwo who is currently detained incommunicado at the RRS Awkuzu Anambra State.

“His mother, Dr. Patience Osunkwo is a retired Director from the Public Works Department of the National Directorate of Employment under the Federal Ministry of Labour. Her husband, Dr. (Arc) Pantaleon Osunkwo KSJ, is also retired but currently retained on contract as Head of the Architecture Department at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

"They are proud parents of seven children, including their youngest, Carlo Chibuzor Emmanuel Osunkwo, aged 22, the last of our set of triplets.

“Carlo is a highly talented footballer who was previously with the Yakubu Garuba Football Academy in Lagos and played for various local clubs, including Ebonyi Football Club, to stay closer to home while preparing for travel arrangements to Germany.

“On July 7, around 11:00 pm, men claiming to be from central security came to their house and took Carlo without a warrant or prior investigation.”

"This is not the first time Carlo had been harassed on the instigation of the same village leader who has sworn to ensure that the Osunkwo’s pay for their father’s opposition for his election as a village leader.

While demanding the immediate release of Carlo Chibuzor Osunkwo if he remains in unlawful custody, RULAAC said,. “We call for disciplinary action against officers of RRS Awkuzu found to have violated due process, assurance of protection for the family from further harassment and intimidation, and urgent intervention to ensure that justice prevails, and that no Nigerian citizen, especially a promising youth, suffers injustice due to personal vendettas or misuse of power.

“We respectfully demand the immediate release of Carlo Chibuzor Osunkwo if he remains in unlawful custody.

“We call for disciplinary action against officers of RRS Awkuzu found to have violated due process, assurance of protection for the family from further harassment and intimidation, and urgent intervention to ensure that justice prevails, and that no Nigerian citizen, especially a promising youth, suffers injustice due to personal vendettas or misuse of power.”