The legal counsel for Chief Jerry Nkeweshe, the Owelle of Onicha‑Olona, has demanded that the Delta State Police Command immediately retract a statement that links his client to the killing of three youths in Okwe near Asaba.
Barrister Kelechi Nnadi, Head of S. Kelechi Nnadi & Co. made the call, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday. He was responding to the Police statement in calling for tracking of his client over the allegation.
The Delta State Police Command had announced a manhunt for Nkeweshe and others alleged to have led an armed group that attacked the community on November 24, resulting in the deaths of the youths.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, confirmed the killings and said the suspects were being sought in connection with the attack.
Nnadi, however, Wednesday, denied any involvement of his client im the allegation and described the police statement as false and damaging.
According to him, Nkeweshe was not in Asaba at the time of the incident—he was in Umunede for medical reasons—and therefore could not have led any armed group to go and kill.
“My name is Kelechi Nnadi, I am a lawyer and head of S.K Nnadi and Co. In response to the publication by the police public relations officer accusing my client, Chief Jerry Nkeweshe, of allegedly murdering about three youths at Okwe over a piece of land. I want to say my client was not in Asaba when the incident happened.
“Unfortunately, my client was not near Asaba or Okwe or anywhere around this area throughout yesterday.
”He left to attend to his health at Umunede and was there in the company of certain persons whose names I am permitted to mention.”
According to him, Nkeweshe returned from Umunede later in the evening and came straight to his office, insisting that he could not have led any armed group.
“How come he led armed men to recover a piece of land in Okwe when he is not the owner of the said land?” the lawyer queried.
The lawyer claimed this was not the first time the client had been targeted, noting that the last time, some people got a fake and fictitious allegation of cyber-terrorism against the client
He added that the matter only subsided after pressure was mounted on the Inspector General of Police, who directed the AIG to investigate.
As at the time of filing this report, the police had not issued a fresh response to the lawyer’s claims.