By Kamsi Anayo
Operatives of Police Rapid Response Squad (RSS) in Nnewi, Anambra state have battered 36 year old Turkey-based Nigerian, Chinedu Arinze in connection with a land case.
The Network gathered that Arinze’s trouble when he went to Nnewi Magistrate Court to get affidavit for his younger brother who intends to travel abroad.
A lawyer from a popular law firm in Nnewi (Names withheld) was said to have sent a petition to the police that the 36 year old Arinze is a member of IPOB and a kidnapper.
“I was in company of my father at Magistrate court to get affidavit for my younger brother. While we were there, the lawyer handling my father’s case involving a land dispute called that the case would hold at Nnewi High Court 2.
“We naturally went there but while we were there, I saw the person we had land issue with in company of his lawyer pointing at me. I didn’t read any meaning into it until a team of Rapid Response Squad from Police Area Command swooped on me and started beating me and even threatened to shoot me if I don’t cooperate.
“They accused me of being an IPOB member and a kidnapper, they dealt with me seriously, the policemen almost blinded me, they kicked me on my private part and even hit me with objects that nearly crippled me.
“It was when we got to the police station that I was told that the lawyer of my father’s opponent in the land matter petitioned that I have been threatening her.
“Unfortunately, I have not had any dealing with the lawyer for anything. So when the police discovered that she lied against me, they apologized to me and released me,” Arinze recounted.
He said that he expected the police officers to at least book the lawyer and ask her to pick his medical bills as done in advanced climes but lamented that that was not done.
He said he had to return home to go to the family hospital to nurse the serious injuries the police squad numbering about ten inflicted on him.
The father of the assaulted man, Dr Eugene Obunike Arinzechi said that the matter actually started in 1984 and that his opponents have been trying tooth and nail to kill his son.
He said that he has over 30 cases in court with his opponents over land dispute and that his opponents should be held responsible if anything happens to his son or any of his family members.
In his own comment, Okpala Nnewi Chiagozie Osunkpo (Akajiofor Nnewi) in whose palace the press briefing took place noted that the land matter actually started in the days of his father and that the case was settled in 1988 the Nnewi way at Agbalor but that the opponents of Dr Eugene Obunike Arinzechi still decided to go to court over the same matter.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Anambra State Command, Tochukwu Ikenga (DSP) said he didn’t have any information on matter. He promised to make enquiries and get back to our reporter.
He had not responded when this report was filed.