Police speaks on why they arrested Abia APGA candidate, Destiny Nwagwu

A police officer with Aba Area Command, Abia State has anonymously confirmed the reason why Hon. Destiny  Nwagwu, APGA  candidate for Aba North State Constituency in the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, was arrested.

This is even as his party members have raised concern over the safety of the candidate.

Some of the party officials who spoke our reporter in Aba, the commercial hub of the state alleged that some men who dressed in plain cloth with SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) inscription had Monday morning between 6am to 7am whisked away Nwagwu to unknown location from his residence in Aba.

According to them, Nwagwu’s sudden disappearance could not be unconnected with the recent outcry by the Aba North State Constituency APGA candidate over what they described as “daylight robbery” of Nwagwu’s victory at the polls by the ruling party in the state, though Nwagwu is said to have headed for court to challenge his loss.

They claimed that Nwagwu’s sudden disappearance was a clear attempt by the ruling party in the state to make him chicken out in pursuing his legitimate case in court.

The State chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere when contacted on telephone confirmed the arrest of Nwagwu, but said that he was yet to have details of his arrest.

Further investigation by our reporter revealed that the Aba North State Constituency APGA candidate was being held at the Aba Area Command of Nigeria Police based on a petition written against Nwagwu by the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of Aba North, Mr. Charles Esonu.

Attempts to reach the Abia State Command Police Spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna proved abortive, but a police at the Aba Area Command who spoke anonymously confirmed that Nwagwu was in their custody.

“Is Nwagwu above the law? He (Nwagwu) was not arrested, but was invited by the police over allegations in a petition against him. There is a petition against him by the Aba North TC (Charles Esonu).

“He has been posting on Social Media, so many things against the petitioner. He was only invited to say what he knows.

“I learnt that the Area Commander (ACP Peter Okpara) will be looking into their case much later today (Monday), because as we speak, the Area Commander is in Umuahia,” the source stated.

When our reporter eventually met with Nwagwu at the Aba Area Command, he said that he was arrested by SARS officials at his residence in Aba while he was trying to drive out at about 6:30am.

He also debunked the allegation that he sent assassins against the petitioner, stressing that on the said date, Esonu who was the LG agent of the PDP candidate is alleging that he was attacked by assassins sent by him (Nwagwu), that he went to Umuahia with only the member representing Aba North and South APGA Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige and a few other persons to INEC Headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital to register their grievance over the attempt to rob him of clear victory at the polls.

“I was arrested in my compound in the morning. Around 6:30am while I was trying to drive out from my compound, some people carrying guns in plain cloth rounded up my car and when I saw that they were policemen, I lowered my car glass and asked what is happening. They said that I am under arrest. I asked what was my offence, they didn’t tell me, that when we get to the station. I told them to allow me inform my wife, but they refused.

“It was when I got here (Area Command) that I learnt that the Aba North TC chairman wrote a petition against me, alleging threat to his life and that of his family members.

“He (Esonu) claimed that on March 10, after leaving INEC Headquarters in Umuahia that I sent assassins after him, which is not true. We only went to Umuahia over the controversies surrounding March 9 Abia State House of Assembly elections where it was clear that I won him. I only went with Ossy Prestige, his DG and a few other persons. So, I don’t know where the thugs that attacked Charles Esonu emanated from. I don’t go with thugs and shouldn’t have sent any against him (Esonu) because I know that I am going to get back my stolen mandate from the court.”