Woman who lost two-month-old pregnancy is Evans’ sister, Police counsel tells Lagos panel

Legal representative, South-West annex office of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police, Mr Nosa Uhumwangho told the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry that Mrs. Nduibuisi Obiechina was arrested because of her involvement with kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumee Onuamadike also known as Evans, adding that she’s Evans’ sister.

The IRT counsel told the sitting that Evans is a brother to Obiechina, adding that one of the numbers used by Evans to demand ransom from his victims was linked to Obiechina’s number.

He said Obiechina was therefore arrested by the police to serve as a lead to the arrest of her brother.

Nigerian Tribune had reported that petitioners, Mrs. Ndubuisi Obiechina and her husband, Mr Obiechina had appeared before the panel on October 31.

They alleged that operatives of the FSARS arrested, tortured and detained them for 22 days which led to the loss of her two and a half-month-old pregnancy and the payment of N400, 000 as bail before their release.

Contrary to this earlier testimony, counsel to the IRT while cross-examining the petitioners said three phone numbers, 08091000097, 08112452895 and 08188489518 were uses by Evans to call his kidnapped victims.

He stated that when he was arrested and the police ran a check on the numbers, it was discovered that Obiechina’s phone number was linked to them.

The counsel said Obiechina was arrested based on this contrary to her earlier testimony, adding that, “in 2016, Evans who is a brother to Mrs Obiechina kidnapped a businessman, Umeh Francis and collected a ransom of 1 million dollars from him. Among the three numbers that was used to call the family of the victims as discovered by the police was that of Obiechina. Her phone number had been used to call the family of the victim for ransom.

“This was why she was arrested. And her arrest eventually led to the arrest of her brother, Evans on the 10th of June, 2017. Mr and Mrs Obiechina were released afterwards. She was not detained for 22 days neither was she tortured.

“The case has since been decided by the court and the sum of N2 million was awarded against the police. What the petitioner needs to do to claim the amount awarded in her favour is to file an enforcement of the judgment. Once a judgment is given against the police, it is normally forwarded to Abuja because of our financial constraints.”

During the cross-examination, Obiechina said, “I was arrested on Friday, 2nd of June 2017 but was made to write my statement on the 5th of June. Evans was my brother but I didn’t know he was into kidnapping. My husband was unable to meet up with the amount demanded by the police so they released him to go and raise the fund for our bail.

“I spent three days in the cell before my statement was taken. I was tortured and beaten for three days after which SP Phillip and Columbus came for my statement. I made the statement on June 5 but I was arrested on June 2. My husband had to go borrowing to be able to secure our bail.”

Chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Doris Okuwobi adjourned further hearing on the matter to December 8.

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