The Anambra State Police Command has denied rumours that an activist, Mr Bonny Okonkwo, is being detained on the order of top business mogul and philanthropist, Sir Emeka Offor.
Okonkwo, an indigene of Oraifite in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State was said to have been arrested after a petition against him. He was said to have published that a meter manufacturing company situated in Oraifite, and touted to be owned by Offor was an empty warehouse, meant to scam the Federal Government.
In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, he accused Okonkwo’s lawyer of misinforming the public.
He said the suspect was arrested and detained for criminal defamation.
Ikenga said, “Anambra State Police Command wishes to advise the reading public to disregard the misinformation being peddled by the Counsel to one Bonny Okonkwo.
Okonkwo is a criminal suspect who was arrested and detained for criminal defamation.
“The allegation that he was arrested at the instigation of Sir Emeka Offor is pedestrian. The Police need not be instigated to do its job.
“A citizen against whom a crime is committed has the right to complain to appropriate authorities and the Police is mandated by the Constitution to investigate such crime.
“Due process was followed in the arrest and detention of the offender for thorough investigation. Even while in detention he persisted in his crime through the use of an electronic device until he was properly searched and denied use of the gadget.
“His detention was on the order of the Court. It is therefore both legal and proper.”
He added that the command would never infringe on the rights of the citizens on the instigation of a private individual.