By Handel Patrick (Staff Reporter)
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has taken over the alleged battery case involving the suspended Chairman, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mr. Mbazulike Iloka.
According to testimonies of neighbors, Mbazulike had allegedly beaten his wife, Chidiebere, to death, a development that led to his suspension by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
In a letter dated July 16, 2022, and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, CP Idowu Owohunwa, the IGP directed the Commissioner of Police, Homicide Section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja to launch a probe into the case and furnish a detailed report.
“I write to respectfully inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Commissioner of Police, Homicide Section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja to investigate diligently and furnish a detailed report,” the letter read partly.
The IGP’s move followed another letter from a civil rights group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), which had approached the police chief to arrest the suspect and probe the circumstances surrounding Chidiebere’s death.
In the letter signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA prayed the IGP to direct the Anambra Command of the Police to transfer the investigation of the matter, if any is ongoing, to the IGP’s desk for more efficient and professional investigation and further action.
“Having realised that you have a very credible Gender Offences Unit under your office in Abuja, that you direct the Anambra Command of the Police to transfer the investigation of this matter if any is ongoing, to your desk for a much more efficient and professional investigation and further action.
“It is also our prayer that if need be, then you take measures such as the lawful arrest of the alleged domestic violence offender pending conclusion of a transparent investigation and if found guilty then you prosecute without waste of time.”
The latest incident is one of the series of cases of domestic and gender-based violence reported this year.
In April, gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, died in a controversial circumstance, and her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, is being prosecuted for battery, going to the victim’s sisters’ and children’s testimonies.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said over 1.7 million sexual and gender-based violence complaints were received in 2021.
