APGA Ward Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Police Intimidation, Demands Release of Osumenyi Party Funds

Engr. Austin Chima Agwuncha

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chairman of Utuh Ward and coordinator of all ward chairmen in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Engr. Austin Chima Agwuncha, has raised the alarm over the alleged use of police operatives by a certain billionaire industrialist to intimidate him into silence over party funds allegedly meant for Osumenyi Ward 1 and Ward 2.

Agwuncha, who spoke to our reporter after his second invitation to the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, said he was invited to the command following a petition written against him, alleging that he had defamed the character of the said billionaire industrialist by addressing him with derogatory remarks.

He recalled that a meeting was held on August 11 this year, during which members of APGA in Osumenyi raised an objection that certain funds which were supposed to get to them during the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election did not reach them.

He said he subsequently raised a motion for the said funds to be recovered and given to Osumenyi Ward 1 and Ward 2.

Shortly afterwards, he received a letter of invitation to the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo to explain why he had accused the individual of withholding party funds.

Agwuncha also told our reporter that the state and national leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were aware of the development, but were not aware that he had been dragged to the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo because he insisted that Osumenyi Ward 1 and Ward 2 should receive what was due to them.

Agwuncha, who has been asked to appear at the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo on Monday, August 31, for the third time, maintained that the police had been lenient with him during the course of their interrogations, contrary to what he alleged was the petitioner’s intention of using the authorities to intimidate him into silence.

Meanwhile, the APGA chairman of Nnewi South Local Government Area, Hon. Azubuike Osuchukwu, who described the situation as political intimidation, said he would not keep quiet but would fight the matter to the last because Engr. Austin Chima Agwuncha had the mandate of the party to demand an explanation on the whereabouts of funds meant for the party.

Osuchukwu said he was the secretary of the APGA campaign committee in Nnewi South during the senatorial by-election and could recall vividly what transpired at the time.

According to him, APGA in Nnewi South Local Government Area must be liberated from the captivity of predators who parade themselves as stakeholders.

Also, in separate interviews, Hon. Chiagozie Udenna, APGA chairman of Osumenyi Ward 2; Hon. Cyprain Ilechukwu, chairman of APGA in Osumenyi Ward 1; and Mr. Onyeka Onukwuzie, an APGA chieftain from Osumenyi town, corroborated the claim that Osumenyi APGA Ward 1 and Ward 2 were allegedly shortchanged because funds that were supposed to get to them were intercepted in transit.

They said they were all living witnesses to the development and were ready to testify anywhere that they were shortchanged and that funds meant for them were diverted by the individual whom they described as a “marauding predator.”