By Mike Odiakose
Traditional ruler of Ukwulu Town in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Peter Uyanwa, has been accused of murdering one Mr. Philip Dilibe
This is contained in a petition to the Inspector General of Police by the solicitor to the deceased, Obinna Modebelu.
According to the petition written by the law firm of OBINNA ELOKA MODEBELU AND ASSOCIATES, the late Philip Dilibe was said on his way home in the company of his friends, Tochukwu Otika, Chinedu Oliobi and Chukwudi Okoye Agbagu when they were accosted by men on two motor bikes who forced them into the bush on Ukpo/Ukwulu road and attacked them with heavy sticks and matchetes.
Part of the petition captioned “MURDER, ASSAULT OCCASSIONING HARM, THREATENING VIOLENCE, CONSPIRACY AND CONDUCT LIKELY TO CAUSE BREACH OF PEACE” reads: “Late Philip Dilibe died after he was stabbed with screw driver on his face while the other 3 persons sustained serious injuries.”
The petitioners said, late Mr. Philip Dilibe became a target after he objected to the way The Traditional Ruler of the Town , Peter Uyanwa was meddling and trespassing in the portions of land belonging to Umugama community in Ukwulu.
“Mr. Philip Dilibe had led a protest against the land grabbing activities of Mr.Peter Uyanwa, the Traditional Ruler of Ukwulu Town.
The traditional ruler was alleged to have committed the crime on the 4TH day of May, 2022 alongside Uba Ayiofu (The President General of Ukwulu Town Union), Kachi Uzodigwe, (the Vigilante Group Chairman), Peter Okoye (Chairman of Umugana Village), Bonny Kamuche, Newton Iloegbunam, Donatus Nwabunze, Christian Adubasim, Ikechukwu Akaeze, Chinweike Martins Nweke who is the Youth Chairman, Chidiebele Anyafu, Okechukwu Emelife, Obi Nwoye Orjiakor (Obi Mojo), Nebechukwu Maduagwuna, Linus Okoye, Ugochukwu Okoye, Chiadi Okoye, Ugochukwu Onwuemezina, Arinze Adubasim, Nnaemeka Okoye, Chuks Uzodigwe, Stephen Mboka, Ifeanyi Uzuegbunam, Anaeto Nweke Ekenta, Augustine Nweke Elenta, Edoziuno Nweke, Ignatius Kala, Uchenna Ilochi, Chidozie Okeke Albert, Chinedu Nwafor (Ogene Igbo), Maduka Anyaora amongst others.
“The deceased, Mr. Philip Dilibe was dumped in the bush off the express road and the other 3 persons were driven off to an uncompleted building where ransom was collected before they were left to go”
The solicitor said Mr. Peter Uyanwa, the Traditional Ruler of Ukwulu town trespassed, forcefully acquired and sold off the lands of Umugama community and used the proceeds to purchase Prince Paradise Hotel, Awka to the tune of Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira.
“When the same Mr. Peter Uyanwa attempted to trespass into the remaining lands of Umugama Community in his bid to dispose the remaining plots of land was seriously objected to by late Philip Dilibe who refused to be part and parcel of the land grabbing overtures of Mr. Peter Uyanwa who is in collaboration with the leadership of Umugama Village led by one Mr. Peter Okoye, who happens to be the Chairman of Umugana Village”
“Mr. Peter Uyanwa and Peter Okoye convened several meetings with their henchmen in Mr. Peter Uyanwa’s palace on ways possible to exterminate Chukwuma Okafor, Okechukwu Adubasim, Chinwendu Nwakasi, Ifeanyi Aniebonm and the Late Philip Dilibe of which they termed “They must all die “ with late Philip Dibile being their prime target.
“The deceased Philip Dilibe was said to have ot wind of the plans of the Traditional Ruler, Peter Okoye and their henchmen against his life and made several reports to the police division at Ukpo under the stewardship of Mr. Efiong Nda as the Divisional Police Officer (D.p.o) and no investigation was conducted nor arrest ever made concerning the several threats made against the person of late Philip Dilibe with the D.P.O always insisting that the Late Philip Dilibe is paranoid and that he should go home that nothing will happen as far as he is the D.p.o at Ukpo Division.
“One of the accomplices, Mr. Kachi Uzodigwe has been reported to have been boasting in the village that the D.P.O in charge of Ukpo collected One Million Naira as settlement and that others should make up their own money to further settle the police to kill the matter.
“One of them, Francis Ogugua a.k.a Salesman or Vic-Franck has also been quoted to have boasted that the murder case would be suppressed as he has direct link to the Inspector General of police, IGP.”
