Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday disclosed the arrest of Miss Jennifer Nwosu, a niece to late Aiza Nwosu, the popular Awka-based town crier, event manager, entertainer and advertiser, who was murdered two weeks ago by unknown gunmen in the capital city.
Miss Jennifer Nwosu was nabbed alongside 12 suspected cultists by the police in the state.
Besides those so far arrested, the nephew to the deceased, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu, is said to be at large.
The latest unfolding came barely two weeks after late Aiza Nwosu was killed by suspected cultists.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, told newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Awka that Miss Jennifer Nwosu was arrested earlier and was granted bail only to be rearrested following her allegations against the Command that the sum of N600,000 was demanded by the police for her bail.
Already, the Command had denied the allegation as untrue.
Ikenga explained that Miss Jennifer Nwosu’s brother, Kenechukwu Nwosu, who is at large, is also being suspected in the murder of the late town crier.
He said that due to the role his sister played in the course of investigation, she was arrested.
According to Ikenga, during the interrogation of Jennifer Nwosu, she claimed not to have seen or spoken to her brother in the last five years, but it was discovered that on the day of the murder of Aiza Nwosu, she spoke to him (Kenechukwu) to inform him about the incident.
‘The Command is investigating a cult related murder in Awka. As part of that investigation, the Police are examining individuals and circumstances that may assist in identifying the perpetrators and locating the principal suspect who remains at large.’
‘During interrogation conducted in the presence of her lawyer, Miss Nwosu denied communicating with the suspect for over five years.’
‘However, information available to investigators indicted that there was communication between her and the suspect on the night of the incident.’
‘The communication under investigation included information concerning the death of the victim and an alert to the suspect that the police were closing in on him.’
‘These were legitimate investigative issues that the Police had a duty to clarify.’
‘For clarity, being invited, arrested or questioned in connection with an investigation is not a declaration of guilt and the Command remains guided by due process and the presumption of innocence,’ Ikenga stated.
He further stated that Miss Nwosu was subsequently released after offering to assist investigation in locating and apprehending the suspect at large.
He explained further that the release of Jennifer Nwosu was therefore connected to the ongoing investigation and the need to explore every lawful means of bringing the principal suspect to justice.
Ikenga said that, ‘The Command is also mindful of section 83 of the Criminal Code of Anambra State, which provides for liability where a person becomes an accessory after the fact to a felony.’
‘Similarly, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law provides the legal framework for bail and criminal proceedings. The Police will continue to exercise their investigative responsibilities within the law and will take necessary lawful steps where circumstances require further investigation,’ he said.
Ikenga also dismissed the allegation of Jennifer Nwosu that the sum of N600,000 was collected from her by the Police before she was released, in reply to an allegation by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC), adding that the Police cannot be distracted in its investigation by diversionary tactics accusing the Command of collecting money for release.
Ikenga maintained that Miss Jennifer Nwosu was granted bail at the office of the Police Commissioner, hence proving that no money was collected from her.
‘We welcome scrutiny, but we also urge individuals and organisations making allegations of extortion, corruption or misconduct to support such claims with credible and verifiable evidence,’ he added.