The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has been exonerated from online reports linking him with an N62m bribe allegedly collected from a businessman, one Olu Agwu Mang, alleged to be a fraudster and sponsoring operations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Reports had claimed that Enugu State Police Command extorted N62m from Agwu, a native of Abiriba in Abia State, which he paid into disguised bank accounts in two tranches. The allegations added that the sum was meant to conceal some high-profile individuals linked with ESN. The state police command, through its spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, earlier debunked the reports, describing them as ‘unfounded.’.
Barr Emeka Abah, the counsel for the suspect, Olu Agwu, in an interview, described the allegations against CP Uzuegbu and the police authorities as ‘frivolous.’.
The lawyer said, “The allegations are unfounded, frivolous, annoying, and vexatious. The police didn’t come into the picture of the payment made in connection with this matter. The police were a kind of alternative dispute resolution agency. They are still investigating the matter. After the investigation and they find out that this Olu has a hand in funding or using ESN or IPOB to threaten Mr Michael Umeh and other allegations, they will take it up.”
Abah explained that he never knew the suspect before but was called by a colleague of his to take up the matter. He said, “Agwu was arrested in December 2024. When I got to the police and interrogated him, the police said they could grant him administrative bail pending further investigation. They, however, restrained him from collecting his vehicle for the allegation that it was a proceed of crime.”
On the veracity of Agwu’s claims against the CP, Abah said, “I wouldn’t know what Agwu is up to. Maybe he wants to intimidate the police with media attacks.”
Abah explained the financial dealings that transpired, which formed the nexus of the allegations, including that his own account was used to settle the police. Quoting him, “My account number was not used to courier money to the police or on their behalf. I came across it on social media. I was dazed. The brief was on 26th December 2024 while I was in the village. The suspect was detained at the Anti-Kidnap Unit, Enugu.
“We agreed on terms, which they settled as my professional fee. A tranche of the money being circulated is my professional fee. The second tranche, N30m, paid to another account, was part payment of the contentious money Agwu owed Mr. Umeh. Police gave Agwu access to me as his lawyer, and I solicited his bail one-on-one. I don’t know where the allegations are coming from, and I won’t take it.”
“The complainant had accused Agwu of sponsoring IPOB/ESN activities. Agwu rather told me that he and Michael Umeh had a deal, and the sharing formula was the problem. The complainant, however, said part of the money is what he, Agwu, used to sponsor IPOB. That was the complainant’s words against the accused. My own duty is to do my work as a lawyer. My client told me he wants the matter to end at the police. Already his vehicle was seized as proceeds of the funds.”
In a written agreement, with video evidence, dated 27th of December 2024, between Mr Olu Agwu, the defendant, of Harmony Estate, off Lambasa, Aja, Lagos, and Mr Michel Umeh of No. 4, Town School, Emene, Enugu, Agwu agreed to pay N100m to Umeh, being debt owed him in the course of a business they entered into.
The document showed that the parties agreed that N30m be paid to Mr Umeh as part payment, while the remaining N70m be paid to him within one month.
The agreement reads in part, “That upon completion and/or payment of the N100m, his Toyota Hilux with Reg No. EKY 955 JM impounded by the police in the course of the arrest of Olu Agwu be released on bond to him.
“That Mr Umeh or his agents, cronies and/or friend or business partners shall not reopen this case in any anti-graft agency, hence these terms of settlement are the final settlement of this case.
“That the N30m was paid into the UBA account of Ike Onwuka Chinedu with no 2317939457. That, Mr. Michael Umeh hereby acknowledges the receipt of N30m today, the 27th day of December 2024.”
Our correspondent reports that Umeh and Olu Agwu signed accordingly with Chinedu Onwuka and Bob Okite as their respective witnesses.
