Ike Nnachi Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State government on Sunday reacted to the arrest of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in the United Kingdom.
The State government in two separate statements confirmed that Mr David Nwamini Ukpo is an indigene of the state.
The statements were issued by Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ụgbala and Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji,
Mr Ụgbala in his statement said the State Government has noted a lot of distortion of information in the social media and has stepped into the matter to unravel all the facts.
He noted that from preliminary investigation, Mr David Ukpo Nwamini is from Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and was living with his junior brother in Ikotun, Lagos, and was engaged in selling of phone accessories with his brother before he left for London.
The state government however disagreed with the London Metropolitan Police’s claim that Mr Nwamini was a minor.
He said: “From the information available to us, it appears that the said David Ukpo Nwamini is not a minor as his junior brother, he was living with is said to be above 20 years of age and if that is the case, then David Ukpo Nwamini might have misinformed the London police, or the London police was very hasty in reaching a conclusion in declaring Mr David Ukpo Nwamini a minor”
“From the records of David’s passport and testimony of Ebonyians in Lagos, preliminary investigation suggests that David is an adult who has a fundamental right to take decisions concerning himself.
“From the account on Social Media, we observe that Senator Ike Ekwerernadu did full disclosure in his letter to the British High Commission in Nigeria in support of David Ukpo’s London Visa application with the sole aim of donating kidney to Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s daughter and so the issue of donation of kidney was never hidden by the Senator,” Mr Ụgbala said.
The State government therefore invited the family members of Mr David Ukpo Nwamini to a meeting on Tuesday in Abakaliki.
“We therefore request the family to come forward for a meeting with Ebonyi State Government on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Abakaliki, Government House, to give us useful information to resolve this problem.”
The state government further enjoined the media to be fair in their reportage of the case as no one has been found guilty yet.
“Without prejudice to justice being served on the matter and whatever may be the outcome, Ebonyi State Government stands with Senator Ike Ekweremadu and their own son, David Ukpo Nwamini, and will do everything possible to assist both, while the case lasts and after the case.
“We believe that Senator Ike Ekweremadu has not been found guilty as investigation is not yet concluded and do request Social Media to be fair in their reporting and to wait for the outcome of the investigation by the London police.
“We have confidence in the ability of the London police to dig into the matter and to serve justice to all parties and nothing but justice.”
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, in his own statement said the state government stands with the embattled Senator at this trying moment and hopes that the truth and nothing but the truth shall guide the outcome of the matter.
The statement also noted that the state government is reaching out to the family of Mr David Okemini Ukpo, the complainant in the matter who is from Ebonyi State.
The State government while urging the UK government to give the Ekweremadus the benefit of the doubt also enjoined the members of the public to remain calm.
The statement reads: “Ebonyi State Government is following up the turn of events and twists that followed the medical intention of the former Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu over the health condition of his daughter, Ms Sonia Ekweremadu, and the circumstances that led to the detention of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in United Kingdom.
“While we urge the UK Government to act progressively and meticulously and critically look at the intention (Mens rea) and the minds of the detained family and please give them the benefit of the doubt, we enjoin the public especially those with shades of opinions and surge of anxieties to remain calm as we hope to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“The State Government is reaching out to the family of David Okemini Ukpo from Ebonyi State, whose information to the Metropolitan Authority of UK orchestrated the criminal charge incidented against the Distinguished Senator and his wife.
“The State Government stands with Senator Ike Ekweremadu at this trying moment and hopes that the truth and nothing, but the truth, shall guide the outcome of the matter,” the statement added.
