Uche Nwosu was lawfully arrested, not abducted – APC
It is a lie, I was never invited by the police
The last has definitely not been heard of the gestapo-style abduction of Mr. Uche Nwosu, a former governorship candidate in the state by the police on Sunday.
Nwosu, who regained his freedom in the early hours of Monday, denied ever being invited by the police before his arrest.
Nwosu in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Chikezie Nwadike, disclosed that he didn’t spend the night in the facilities of the police.
The statement also debunked the speculation that Nwosu was arrested in a church because he had refused to honour many police invitations extended to him.
The statement challenged the police or anybody who held the opinion to produce a documented proof wherein Nwosu, a governorship candidate of the Action Alliance in 2019 elections in the state, was invited by the police.
The statement reads in part, “This is to inform the general public, friends and well-wishers, supporters and sympathisers that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, who was abducted by security agencies while observing church service at the St Peter’s Anglican Church Umunwokwe Village Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre LGA, has regained his freedom and released unconditionally. He never spent a night in their custody as every effort was put in place to get him out.
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“Recall the ugly incident that took place yesterday, December 26, 2021, at St Peter’s Anglican Church as security operatives swooped inside the church during the outing service after his mother’s burial and whisked him away amidst sporadic shootings and harassment of the congregation.”
The statement further added, “While we await a police report on the reasons for the abduction and arrest, we call on everyone to remain calm and focused because God is in charge of the whole situation.
“Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is a perfect gentleman who has a great deal of respect for constituted authorities and has never for once been caught up in civil disobedience. There was never an invitation and if anyone says otherwise, let the person come forth with evidence.”
But the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) countered Uche Nwosu’s claim, insisting that he was lawfully arrested.
A statement by the APC publicity secretary in the State, Mr. Cajetan Duke, which was made available to journalists in Owerri, claimed that Nwosu was arrested for refusing to honour prior police invitations.
Duke, who described the law as not being a respecter of any individual, noted that the refusal to honour genuine and lawful police invitation could warrant forceful arrest to bring an individual to book.
He added that the APC in Imo, led by Mr. MacDonald Ebere, would not condone “acrimonious rantings” that point to Gov. Hope Uzodimma’s inability to manage the security situation in Imo.
He advised Nigerians, especially social media handlers, to desist from peddling rumours and unfounded allegations aimed at defaming the governor and the state government.
“The APC staunchly supports the governor and government of Imo in their effort to restore sanity, peace, order and sustainable economic development in the state.
“As a party, we advise Nigerians to refrain from trite shenanigans and doomed efforts to link Gov. Uzodimma with self-imposed and merited predicament.
“We commend the governor for his equanimity, mature and honourable disposition in the face of rash provocations and rascality from persons intentionally working against the overall interest and wellbeing of Imo people,” he said.