Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
A popular High Life musician in Ebonyi State, Kelvin Ibinabo, is battling for his life in the hospital after he was allegedly brutalised by an Aide to Governor David Umahi.
The Aide, known as Machiavelli Ụzọ, is the Coordinator of Ohaozara Development Center in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The artiste told Journalists on Tuesday that the Coordinator alongside his thugs attacked him on Saturday night with various weapons after which they locked him up in a room.
When he was almost at the point of comatose, the police arrived and rescued him and took him to hospital.
Narrating his ordeal, the Musician said he was booked by the Ohaozara Local Government Area Chairman, Consider Ajah, to perform at the burial event of his mother in-law in the local government last week.
The musician said that when it was nightfall he ordered his crew to pack up and call it a day.
“It was at that point that the Ohaozara Development Centre Coordinator, Machiavelli Uzo, emerged from nowhere and ordered me to play a campaign song of Mr Francis Nwifuru, the APC governorship candidate in Ebonyi State.”
Mr Ibinabo said he replied him that it was nightfall and they should be leaving for Abakaliki, and that the event he came to perform was not a political event.
But the Coordinator threatened to attack him with his boys if he didn’t do what he ordered him to do.
Mr Ibinabo at that point had no choice and for the sake of peace picked microphone and started playing the song for him.
Ater about 20 minutes he dropped the microphone but Mr Uzo again ordered him to pick the microphone again and play until he would be satisfied.
But Ibinabo this time refused to sing and instead ordered his crew to pack up so they could leave the scene.
The Coordinator and his thugs were said to have descended on Ibinabo beating him with different weapons.
After beating him to almost a comatose state, they whisked him into a room in the compound and locked him up.
The Police in Ohaozara later arrived and rescued him from the room and took him to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki for treatment.
Mr Ibinabo noted that the Chairman, Consider Ajah, was not around when the incident happened as he had left for Abakaliki to attend a meeting.
He exonerated the Chairman from the incident adding that the Chairman has been good to him in the past.
“He was not aware of it and if he was aware it won’t have happened. He has been the one taking care of my hospital bills since that Saturday.
“He is always coming to the hospital to check up on me and ensure I get the best treatment. I have known him for a long time and can say it anywhere that he didn’t have anything to do with the attack,” Ibinabo said.
Meanwhile, when contacted the Coordinator, Mr Uzo, denied attacking the musician whom he described as his friend.
He said he pleaded with the artist to sing a song for him which the artist agreed.
He said the musician asked the DJ to play the song and they all sang and danced along while he sprayed the musician and his band members some money
“After that we want inside the house and were making merry but after sometimes he (Ibinabo) said he wants to go outside and check something.
“The next thing I heard a commotion with some people beating him and chasing him into the house. I was also surprised by the actions of his attackers like others inside,” he said.
Mr Uzo while regretting the ordeal the artist went through said he is working with security agencies and the Council Chairman to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators.
The Coordinator dismissed insinuations that he was out to tarnish the image of the Council Chairman.
He said he has no issues with the Chairman adding that they have a cordial relationship and are working together for the development of the council and state.
The Council Chairman, Mr Ajah, could not be reached for comments.
He told our reporter when contacted on phone that he was in a meeting and would call back when he was through.
He did not return the call as promised and also did not take subsequent calls placed on his phone lines.
