Alleged Assault In Etche Council: We’re Not Too Comfortable With Charges Against CSO – Hon. Bestman

The Councillor representing Igbodo Ward 14 in Etche Legislative Assembly, Etche Local Government Area, Hon. Azuonwu Bestman, has said that they are not too comfortable with the charges preferred against Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the council in the case of alleged assault of the Leader of the Legislative Assembly.

Hon. (Mrs) Cynthia Nwala, Leader of the Assembly, was  allegedly assaulted by CSO of the council recently.

Speaking in an interview Hon. Bestman said that they were not too comfortable with the charges saying that their counsel applied for amendment of the charges because they were made so mere and even if they won the case the punishment would not be severe.

Hon. Bestman said: “We are not too comfortable with the charges we saw. The police finished investigation and they didn’t let us know the outcome of the investigation and they went to the court and then presented the charges in a way that they were so minimal. But you know, she (Legislative Leader) was assaulted with instruments like knives. The boys had guns and other things so we have applied for amendment of the charges”.

He said the charges by the police only said that she was given a fist blow on her forehead by the CSO and her car was vandalized and her gown torn.

He said that they also applied for amendment because they felt that the Chairman of the Council, Dr. Obinna Anyanwu, should have been indicted in the charges.

The CSO was arraigned before a State Magistrate Court on Thursday, 21 October and had pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.

The Councillor said that the Leader was assaulted as she was going to leave the council premises after the day’s business having screened together with other councillors Supervisory Councillors and aides of the Chairman.

Talking on the development he said: “After we finished sitting on that day, the Leader wanted to rush down somewhere. We the guys were still inside exchanging pleasantries. When she got to the Council gate it was locked so she was trying to make calls to know what happened. When she called the Chairman to know why the place was locked the Chairman was not giving favourable response. So while she was trying to come out to decipher why the gate was locked she saw the CSO coming with about 20 or 25 thugs. They came down to where she was close to the gate, telling her to open the vehicle but she refused to open.

“They dragged her vehicle but she refused opening it so they went and brought knife, broke the glasses of the vehicle, both the front and back. They now forcefully opened her vehicle, dragged her out and she fell on the ground and they bounced on her”.

He further said: “While dragging her they beat her up and then put arm inside the broken car, took away the Mace, laptop and other properties. She said she had money and other things in the vehicle including some persons’ phones that were with her”.

He said their attention was attracted by the uproar and before they could get to the gate they saw the CSO with the Mace and the alleged thugs leaving with him as they chanted, saying that they met the Leader crying.

Asked if there was strained relationship between the executive and legislative arms, the councillor said that there had been no issues.

He however said before the Leader was attacked he had granted interview “concerning the state of the Secretariat” with Councillors and Principal Officers having no offices and no water.

He also said at the time the roof of the secretariat building was leaking saying that after the interview there had been uproar with alleged threats.

He said that his move had led to renovation in the secretariat adding that they had told the Leader to take the Mace home and bring it for every sitting until after renovation.

The case was adjourned for continuation of hearing to November 8 and the CSO was granted bail.

Speaking on the development, the acting Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State chapter, Nnenna Igbokwe, said FIDA would not condone violence or assault against women.

She said that the police should do thorough investigation and bring anyone responsible to book.

She also said since the matter was in court the group believed justice would be done in the case.