Deputy senate president denies link with rogue cop
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu has denied reports that he is working for the exoneration of Sam Chukwu, a Divisional Police Officer in Enugu who is being investigated by the police for allegedly aiding kidnapping activities in Enugu.
Mr Ekweremadu, in a release signed by Paul Odenyi, his special assistant on media, denied any link to the troubled police officer.
“The point must be made that I have not seen the said officer in the last three years and did not know which of the commands of the police he is serving in until I began to read these allegations,” Mr Ekweremadu said. “I also state emphatically that I have not spoken to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) or put any member of its high command under pressure on any matter relating to this officer or any other policeman who is being questioned, not least on account of issues of criminal nature.” Mr Chukwu, who is accused of involvement in several cases of kidnapping in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, was invited to the police headquarters in Abuja for questioning.
Reports also had it that the Deputy Senate President used his office to lobby for Mr Chukwu's release because they are from the same home town. “Let me also clarify that I am not from Awgu Local Government as the report stated. I am from Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state,” he said. “As a lawyer, I believe in the capacity of security forces to maintain law and order and I can never assist anybody out of the reach of the law. It is instructive that the reports say the police is looking into the case and I plead with the media to, please, seek the release of their investigation, if any, before making insinuations that aim primarily to tarnish my image.
“In the Senate, it is on record that early this year, I sponsored the motion urging the police to take sterner measures to stem the rising cases of kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes in the south-east. Therefore, it would not be consistent of me to move the highest law-making body in the land to take that position, and (then) go around to ask the police to let off somebody allegedly aiding kidnapping in our land.”
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