Group Wants DPP Sacked Over Official Misconduct

Women Initiative for
Transparency and Social Justice (WITSOJ), a coalition of professionals, labour unions, NGOs, faith based organisations and community based organisations women groups, has called for the sack of Mr. I. Otorilbio, Director of Public Prosecution, Rivers State over an alleged misconduct in the discharge of his official duties.
The group among other things is demanding for an investigation to be carried against the DPP for an alleged misconduct and compromise in a case of human rights violation and miscarriage of justice involving Chief Chibunna Nwafor, Mrs. Amarachi Nwafor and their five children from Umuebulu in Etche Local Government Area of the state as well as the removal from the membership body of judiciary in the state and community at large.
WITSOJ is a non-governmental organisation focuses on achieving accountability, transparency and social justice from government and every public office holders, to defend human rights, especially those of women and their children through strengthening the voice of the violated in the society, as well as pursuit for participatory and inclusive governance among many other objectives.
The group in a 10-page petition titled “Call for Justice, Investigation and Removal of I. Otorubio (Director of Public Prosecution) Rivers State from the Ministry of Justice in Rivers and Nigeria”  addressed to the chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Maitama FCT, Abuja dated 23rd June, 2014 and signed by Dr Princess Jennifer Spiff and Engr. Christy Ikpo, National coordinator and Asst. General Secretary, respectively.
The petitioners also attached the photograph showing tortured body of Chief Nwafor, his burnt houses and copied to the office of the State Governor, Attorney General, Speaker State House of Assembly, the Nigerian Legal Council, Director SSS, EFCC, The Tide, AIT, Channels and Surveillance newspapers.
Part of the petition reads ‘on the 23rd of September 2012, the wife of Chief Chibunna Nwafor, Mrs. Amarachi Nwafor contacted them with an outcry, seeking for justice-she reported that her husband was then selected and approved on the 20th August, 2012 for a chieftaincy title coronation by His Majesty, Eze E.N.B. Opurum, the Onye Ishi of Etcheland, was arrested by the men of SOS State Police Command on 22nd September 2012, on an alleged murder and kidnap charges being alleged by the Njoku’s family of the same Umuebulu community in the same local government area. Shortly after the supposed head of the family (Njoku) declined the endorsement of Mr. Chibunna Nwafor, title taking and opposed same as an intent of becoming rival to their control of land resources and sharing of shell royalties which they (Njoku) had since enjoyed alone”.
The group also alleged that while Chief Nwafor was in police custody and investigation was on-going, on 25th September, 2012, the Njoku’s family led by the crime king pin, Mr. Daniel Njoku, gained entrance into Chief Nwafor’s compound to unleash mayhem, forced all his tenants away and set his properties/estates over million naira ablaze including his Toyota Hilux, while the breadwinner of the family was brutally tortured in the police custody.
The group further said that the denial of access by police to Chief Nwafor’s family members to him while in police custody triggered petition to the chairmen of the Human Right Commission which led to Nwafor’s arraignment in court by the police via “Commissioner of Police Vs Chief Chibunna Nwafor M” 44 yr, Bosims Felix Okpekl ‘m’ alias Tolla 29 years charge sheet No. PMC 2052c 12″ and subsequently remanded in prison.
WITSOJ opined that their persistent efforts in the matter was responsible for the police to arrest the culprit Mr. Dan Njoku alleging that the hope and justice for all, “was short lived by the immediate hijack/miscarriage of justice by DPP through his release on bail outside the court jurisdiction (Ahoada precisely).
According to their claim, the DPP’s action thwart years of effort made by them and Nwafor’s family to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book”.
The group averred that it was disgusting to note that, in the face of glaring pieces of evidences, video and living entries standing tall and strong against the perpetrators, the DPP who should be an embodiment of equity and justice, unprofessionally went on air via Cool FM without court trial to exonerate his alleged benefactors, Daniel and Chidi Njoku but declared unknown persons wanted of the crime.
Reacting to the allegations, when contacted on phone, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) I. Otorubio referred our correspondent to the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wogu Boms and noted that was his immediate boss and had right to speak.
But when contacted via phone, the state Commissioner for Justice, Wogu Boms said he had nothing to do with the petition.