Prince Onuh shun police invitation after attempting to kill journalist in Abuja

Three weeks after leading some thugs to attack Ameh Comrade Godwin, one of the Deputy Editors of DAILY POST, the immediate past Caretaker Chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, Samuel Odoh Onuh (Prince Onuh), and his cohorts are yet to be arrested by the police. This is even as different petitions have been submitted to the police over the matter.

DAILY POST reports that Ameh was attacked and mercilessly assaulted by Onuh, who is the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming Local Government election in the State, his brother, Frank and some hoodlums in Area 8, Abuja.

He also threatened to attack other staff of the organization, including the Managing Editor, Adoyi Ali.

After the attack, Onuh and his brother, Frank, fled Abuja for Benue State and have since refused to honour police invitations.

Ameh had earlier reported the matter to the police and there was an attempt by the police to arrest Onuh the night of the attack in Abuja. When some police officers were mobilized to track Prince Onuh in Abuja, he escaped to Makurdi. This consequently led to a petition submitted by Ameh at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), a copy, which was sent to the Inspector General of Police by his lawyer, Barr. Abbas Ochogwu.

Similarly, DAILY POST through its lawyer, Barr. John Geroge Itodo, Esq, of Hedgewood Legal, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the attempted murder and threat to lives of DAILY POST staff.

 

In the petition entitled: “Petition against one Samuel Odoh Onuh, the PDP candidate for Ogbadibo LGA chairmanship election in Benue State for violent attack on Ameh Comrade Godwin and threat to lives of Ali Adoyi and others” the lawyer called on the police “IG to without delay investigate and prosecute the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs, who have vowed to either make life unbearable for our clients’ staff or terminate their lives. And our clients are more apprehensive as the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs have carried out the first attack.”

The managing Editor, Adoyi Abah Ali, also concerned about the safety of Comrade Ameh and other staff had equally submitted a petition at the Bwari Police Division over the attack on his colleague and alleged planned attack on other staff of the organization, including himself.

Onuh has, however, refused to make himself available for interrogation despite police claims that they had sent series of invitations to him.

Speaking with DAILY POST on the development, the Benue State Police Command PRO, DSP Anene Sewuese Catherine, asked that an arrangement be made so he could be arrested since he’s said to be in Benue at the moment and has refused to honour the police.

“That is sad. Since he’s said to be in Benue State, make an arrangement with IPO in Abuja so he could be arrested, since it didn’t happen within our jurisdiction,” she said.

However, following his refusal to honour police invitation, plans have been concluded to declared him wanted for attempted murder and threat to life.

A police source said if the politician refused to turn in himself, he would be declared wanted in the media.

 

“This is a serious case that should not be swept under the carpet. We have received the petition and my boss is really bitter over the development. How can you assault someone and still label him a thief so he could be lynched by mob? That is wicked and callous. He also threatened to do the same to his colleagues. Is this what politics has turned to? He has been given the grace to honour the invitation or be declared wanted by the police,” the source said.

 

On his part, Ameh said Onuh has been going underground to beg, but has failed to do what is expected of him by turning himself to the police or admitting and issuing a public apology for his actions.

 

“The funny part is that he has been sending people to beg my family to withdraw the case but has refused to admit that he committed the crime. My life and that of my family are in danger here because he threatened to come back after his first mission to kill me failed. The police and other security agencies should note that whatever happens to me or any member of my family, Prince Onuh and his family should be held responsible,” Ameh said.

DAILY POST also gathered that the politician has been using senior police officers to evade arrest.

A petition is currently being prepared to be submitted with the Directorate of State Services, DSS, for further discrete investigation on the matter as Ameh has vowed to pursue justice till the end.

Some members of an Advocacy group have raised the alarm over threats to their lives by the same ex-council chairman, and have written to the police to ensure justice is served in the matter.

The Coordinator of Owukpa Advocacy Group, and staff of Leadership Newspaper, Ujah David Abakpa, has equally submitted a petition over several threats he had received from the suspect.