From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Mr. Everest Ezihe, a senior Journalist with The Authority Newspaper is under serious threat by one, Nze Henry Onyegbule of Amainyi autonomous community in Ihitte Uboma local government area of Imo State for investigating an alleged story of defilement of one Miss. Nmesoma Chiwike, a 9 year old primary school daughter of Mr and Mrs Jude Chiwike of Omulo village in the above named autonomous community by their kinsman, Mr Okechukwu Azuagu, an over 60 year old man.
It was really embarrassing last Tuesday (16/12/2025) that barely 30 minutes Ezihe stepped out from the office of Imo State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of investigations in the State Police Command, Dr Abuja Gasau, an examplary police officer, highly celebral and disciplined Police Officer who together with a senior police officer in charge of Juvenile Matters (child abuse), a lady junior officer and the investigating police officer (IPO) of the alleged underaged defilement matter, Mr Polycarp Chigbu, another amiable, committed and intelligent Police Officer were intorragating the mother of the victim, Mrs.Onyinye Chiwike and the suspect raising critical questions and issues concerning the matter.
Onyegbule called on MTN number 0703 549 9008, that Truecaller brought out his name as stated and rained abuses, insults and threat on innocent Journalist doing his job of investigation, just to balance the information at his disposal.According to Onyegbule, ” you don’t want to drop this report ? You are still writing ? Watch out! You stupid Journalist. I will definitely deal with you. Idiot”.
My friendly and un-harmly, questions of “my brother, who are you ? What’s my offense ? . He abruptly cut the call and shouted ” stupid man ! Let see, how it will end”.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police and his colleagues efforts to the mother of the victim to present her daughter before the police as the law demands, probably to effect further detention and prosecution of the suspect was vehemently objected by the mother.
She made it point blank that she doesn’t want any case, that her daughter deserves her privacy and protection, and that the suspect even before the police is innocent of the accusation.
Chiwike passionately appealed to the police to henceforth stop inviting her, saying that she will never attend to any of their invitations concerning the matter again.
She accused the traditional ruler of the autonomous community, HRH Eze Pharm Emeka Ogbonna ( Eze Ohazurume, Inyi 3) and some members of his cabinet of unnecessarily meddling into the issue.
Chiwike boldly pointed out that it’s her own personal family affair,their cross and that nobody has the right to dictate to her and her husband what to do for the alleged criminal matter.
The Police on their own expressed shocked and surprised over her statements and media reports accusing them of compromising over the matter.
The DCP lamented that their efforts to further arrest, detain and prosecute the suspect is being frustrated by the inability of the victim’s parents to produce their alleged victim daughter, despite medical report at their disposal, coupled with the lack of somebody or group appearing as complainant.
Meanwhile, HRH Eze Pharm Emeka Ogbonna, the traditional ruler of Amainyi autonomous community told The Authority Newspaper that he and members of his cabinet has no special interest on the matter, that their interest is borne on the need for justice so as to serve as a deterrent.
Ogbonna noted that as the Head of security and custodian of his people’s culture and traditions it’s their sincere desire for the police to prosecute the suspect, and if found guilty, he should face the wraths of the law, and then cleanse and appease the gods of their land so as to serve as a deterrent.
He described as falsehood, the police claim of lack of complainant, asking a rhetoric question of how then did police come in to the matter ?
The royal father informed that the community through Mr. Cornelius Edomobi Dike, a patriotic son of the community reported the matter in Isinweke Police Station, Ihitte Uboma LGA but expressed disappointment that the police since then despite having access to his written statement, name and phone number have never invited him on the matter since after incedenting the matter.
It’s pertinent to recall that the incident allegedly happened on 24th October, 2025 and was reported to the community authorities who later brought the matter with the suspect to Isinweke Police Station.
Dike also confirmed to The Authority that he was an eyewitness when the community youths were dragging the suspect and that he and others quickly reported the matter to the police to avert jungle justice that was imminent against the suspect.
He expressed displeasure that since the suspect was released from the police detention, he feels unperturbed as he allegedly goes about bragging and claiming innocence.
Dike accused the Police of reluctancy in prosecuting the criminal matter despite interventions of FIDA and other human rights groups like RULAAC.
This he said as the reason that prompted the community into petitioning, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 9, Umuahia asking for immediate transfer and prosecution of the matter.
A copy of the petition he availed to The Authority is captioned, Re: Defilement of a nine (9) years old child, Miss. Nmesoma Chiwike by one, Mr. Okechukwu Azuagu (60) years old is dated 11/11/2025 and written through Onuoha, Onuoha Law Firm (Ogbuiyi Chambers), Aba and signed by Sir, OPJ Ogbuji Esq
Dike further informed that the suspect is a proprietor of provision store within the village, even as he accused him of taken the advantage of his business and poverty in the community to lure the underaged but gullible girls with consumable goods as gifts and subsequently abused them sexually.
He also alleged that the suspect with his cohorts seems to have engaged with the act for long as information is filtering in.
“In the recent past, some parents have been courageous enough to have confronted him of abusing their daughters sexually based on confessions, but unfortunately, due to lack of money and contacts, and probably the societal scars associated with such issue, the victims are often sceptical in prosecuting the matter” he reported.
The community leader emphatically stated that the community is also suspicious that the accused is probably using the sexual escapede with the under aged girls for diabolical purposes.
”This is why, the community is seriously demanding for prosecution and justice, over the latest issue that have subjected the community into undue division, confusion, apprehension, tension and suspense” he emphasized.
Dike also pointed out that, on the day of the incident, some youths wanted to unleash jungle justice on the suspect and his provision store, but fortunately, he was among the people that called the Police, at Isinweke Police Station and they hurriedly came and calmed the tensed situation, arrested and hurriedly whisked off the suspect to their station, where both the suspect and the community members made statements.
“Following the perceived tension, the matter was hurriedly transferred to the Department of Quick Response, CID Section of the State Police Command, Owerri with Mr Polycarp Chigbu, as the Investigating Police Officer, IPO”.
The community he said were not impressed over their perceived, Police lackadaisical attitude in prosecuting the case and how hurriedly the suspect was granted bail in a criminal matter like that.
According to him,”that is a serious criminal matter, not one that the Police, family, or community can ever settled privately. Settlement or withdrawal is not allowed in accordance with the nation’s law.
”Defilement is a heinous crime and is considered a crime against the State, not a private dispute. Therefore, the police cannot settle it.The family cannot withdraw it. The Attorney-General rarely and almost never discontinues such cases because of the gravity of the offense.
”Any Police officer or community leader who “settles” or takes money to close such a criminal case is committing a crime, obstruction of justice and compounding a felony. Even if the victim’s family “forgives” the man, the State must still prosecute the matter. This is the law because it’s a serious criminal offence not one that the Police, family, or community can ever “settle privately” he insisted.
Research with reference to 1999 Nigerian constitution and as amended, defilement is charged under the criminal law Section 1(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) 2015 (if it happened in the FCT or in a State that has domesticated it like Imo), or section 218 of the Criminal Code Act (for Southern States), or section 283 of the Penal Code (for Northern States).
Furthermore, the penalties for rape or defilement of a girl under 13 years is handled under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, which is punishable with life imprisonment, similarly, under the VAPP Act, defilement or rape carries a penalty of life imprisonment (and can include payment of compensation to the survivor).
While under the Penal Code (Northern States), rape or defilement of a minor can carry life imprisonment or death sentence, depending on the State’s laws (for example, some Sharia-based States prescribed the death penalty).
Dike re-emphasised that the 9-year-old child is a minor and is being protected under: The Child’s Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), and international conventions Nigeria has signed (like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).
These laws he stated guarantees the child
protection from sexual abuse and exploitation, rights to dignity, safety, and justice, access to medical care, counselling, and rehabilitation.
Similarly, a non governmental organization under the auspices of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the alleged defilement of a nine-year-old girl by a 60-year-old man, at Amainyi Autonomous Community in Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
The RULAAC Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, also told The Authority that the organization has taken over the matter and wouldn’t relent in ensuring that justice is promptly done.
Nwanguma said that a petition has already been written to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Zone 9 Umuahia demanding for the transfer of the case to the zone for proper investigations and probably prosecution.
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