Aiza Nwosu Murder: Police Arrest 12, Deny Collecting ₦600,000 for Niece’s Release
The Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday revealed that it had arrested more than 12 suspects allegedly linked to the murder of Awka-based public announcer, comedian and town crier, Chief Isaac Nwosu, popularly known as Aiza Nwosu, as well as other cult-related killings in Awka, the state capital.
Among those arrested was his niece, Miss Chikamso Jennifer Nwosu, while his nephew, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu, remains at large and is also being investigated in connection with the murder.
The command, however, denied allegations that its officers collected ₦600,000 to secure Jennifer Nwosu’s release, saying her arrest and subsequent release were connected to the ongoing investigation into the murder case.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, made the clarification on Wednesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Awka.
He dismissed the allegation as false and challenged anyone alleging extortion, corruption or other misconduct against police officers to produce credible and verifiable evidence.
Ikenga explained that Kenechukwu Nwosu, who is at large, is also a suspect in the murder.
He said Jennifer Nwosu was arrested because of information concerning the role she allegedly played in the course of the investigation.
According to him, during interrogation, Jennifer Nwosu initially claimed that she had neither seen nor spoken to her brother in the past five years.
However, investigators subsequently discovered that she had communicated with Kenechukwu on the night of Aiza Nwosu’s murder.
“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 indicated 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 said.
He further explained that Jennifer Nwosu was subsequently released after offering to assist the police in locating and apprehending the principal suspect, who remains at large.
He said her release was therefore connected to the ongoing investigation and the need to explore every lawful means of bringing the principal suspect to justice.
Ikenga also noted that the command was 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.
The PPRO stated categorically that the police did not demand or collect ₦600,000, or any other amount, as a condition for Jennifer Nwosu’s release.
“We are not a collection of angels, but the Anambra State Police Command did not demand or collect ₦600,000, or any money whatsoever, as a condition for Miss Nwosu’s release,” Ikenga said.
The clarification followed an earlier alarm raised by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) over the whereabouts and safety of Nwosu after her reported return to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, amid controversy over an alleged ₦600,000 payment for her earlier release.
RULAAC, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said Nwosu contacted the organisation on September 6, alleging that she had been arrested on August 31 and detained for four days because the police were looking for her brother, who was reportedly wanted in connection with an alleged murder.
She also allegedly told the organisation that ₦600,000 was paid on September 3 for her “administrative bail”, but that no receipt was issued.
She further alleged that her mobile phone was seized without a seizure form or property receipt.
The organisation said the Commissioner of Police told it that Nwosu had denied, in the presence of her lawyer, that ₦600,000 had been demanded or obtained from her.
RULAAC said this contradicted her earlier written communication to the organisation.
RULAAC also alleged that Nwosu had been rearrested and demanded disclosure of her whereabouts, legal status, place of detention and access to her lawyer and family. It warned that it would escalate the matter to relevant police oversight and human-rights authorities if the issues were not clarified.
Responding to the allegations, Ikenga said the command was investigating the alleged cult-related murder of Aiza Nwosu and other cult-related killings in Awka.
He said that, in the course of the investigation, the police were examining individuals and circumstances that could assist in identifying the perpetrators and locating the principal suspect, who remained at large.
Ikenga said additional information concerning Jennifer Nwosu’s alleged involvement in the matter led to her arrest and interrogation, which was conducted in the presence of her lawyer.
Although Nwosu denied communicating with the principal suspect for more than five years, Ikenga said information available to investigators indicated that there had been communication between the two on the night of the incident.
He said investigators were examining the content and circumstances of the communication, including information concerning the victim’s death and an alleged 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,” he said.
The police spokesman stressed that being invited, arrested or questioned in connection with an investigation did not amount to a declaration of guilt, adding that the command remained guided by due process and the presumption of innocence.
On why Nwosu was eventually released, Ikenga said she was allowed to go after offering to assist the police in locating and apprehending the principal suspect.
“Her release was therefore connected to the ongoing investigation and the need to explore every lawful means of bringing the principal suspect to justice,” he said.
The PPRO said the allegation that money was paid for Nwosu’s release was an attempt to distract investigators from the murder investigation.
“The police cannot be distracted in our investigation by diversionary tactics by accusing the police of collecting money for release,” he said.
Ikenga reiterated that no ₦600,000 was demanded or collected from Nwosu for her release, maintaining that her arrest was linked to the ongoing investigation into the Awka cult-related murder.
He said the investigation remained ongoing and that the command would continue to take lawful steps necessary to establish the facts and apprehend the principal suspect.
The police spokesman said the command welcomed legitimate scrutiny from civil society organisations, human-rights groups and the media, particularly in promoting accountability, transparency and respect for human rights.
He nevertheless urged individuals and organisations alleging extortion, corruption or misconduct against police officers to substantiate their claims with credible and verifiable evidence.
“As the law recognises, he who alleges must prove,” Ikenga said.
He assured that the command would continue to pursue the investigation professionally and objectively, without fear or favour, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that justice was served.
