The Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, restrained the police on Friday from arresting All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate Prof. Benard Odoh in connection with the murder of the Umuezeokoha traditional ruler, HRH (Eze) Igboke Ewa. The late monarch was reportedly killed on a Monday night two weeks ago at his palace by unknown assailants.
Earlier, Ebonyi State police had declared the APGA candidate and nine others wanted after a petition was filed by some members of the victim’s family. An Owerri High Court subsequently barred the police from arresting Odoh. The matter resurfaced in Abakaliki High Court 1, where the victim’s son, Prince Igboke Emeka, filed a suit against Odoh, the Commissioner of Police, and the Inspector‑General of Police, seeking a court order mandating their immediate arrest.
Counsel for the APGA candidate, led by SAN C.K. Okorie, challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the application. After considering the jurisdictional motion and the substantive case, the court ordered that the police conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the allegations. If anyone is found culpable for the murder, that person should then be arrested. The court declined to grant the applicant’s request for an immediate arrest.
Sir Petrus Elechi, counsel for the first defendant (Odoh), praised the judgment, commending the court for avoiding the use of the legal process as a tool for political witch‑hunt. He expressed satisfaction that the ruling upheld the rule of law by requiring a comprehensive investigation before any arrests are made.
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