CLO condemns brutalisation of Akaneme, Ex-ONICCIMA President, calls for immediate arrest, arraignment of culprits

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By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State chapter has condemned in strongest term “the insensitivity, barbarism, despicable, inhuman torture and brutalization” of the former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce,Mine and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme, by the agents of Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA).

On Friday 11tth October, 2024 at about 7am, some officials of ASWAMA led by one Mr.Joseph Okoye, accompanied by two policemen visited Akaneme’s residence over an alleged unpaid ASWAMA levy.

In the process of drawing the money Akaneme was mercilessly tortured,brutalized and now paralyzed with his spinal cord broken during the attack by the ASWAMA Enforcement team.

He is now battling to survive at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH), Enugu.

But in a press release tagged: “Silence in the Face of Evil is Evil itself”, endorsed by Comrades Vincent Ezekwueme and Chidi Mbah Chairman and Secretary of CLO respectively the group called on Governor Charles Soludo and Commissioner of Police to immediately swing into actions to constitute Investigative panel made of men of impeccable character and integrity to unravel the circumstances surrounding this “despicable and detestable brutalization of Mr.Akaneme”.

The group wrote in their statement: According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu “we are murderers the moment we see evil and failed to speak against it” and “justice could only be served when the unaffected are as outraged as those affected.If gold rust what will happen to iron.”

As President of ONICCIMA, CLO said: “Akaneme fought vigorously along side with CLO and other progressive minded Anambrarians towards the resuscitation of moribund Onitsha River Port,dismantling of over 65 customs and police check points from Lagos to Onitsha and from Port Harcourt to Onitsha,lifting of bans of some goods, appointment of businessman/entrepreneur as Commissioner for Commerce and Trade”.
He also. they said: “fought against multiple taxations,insecurity, bad roads and other evils in the state.
If such injustice, brutality and man’s inhumanity against man was meted to such a senior citizen what will happen to ordinary citizens”.
CLO in the release reiterated her incessant appeal to Governor Soludo to inculcate “the culture of civility, respect for human dignity,decorum,constitution and rule of law into government officials and agents in the discharge of their duties.
“We are not in Hobbesian state of nature in which the might is not only right,but life will be brutish,nasty,short and unbearable.
Few months ago citizen Mrs Nkemakolam Nnamani was brutalized by agents of State Anti-Touting Squad at Upper Iweka. She is now paralyzed, her children’s education truncated.We drew the attentions of both Gov Soludo and government of Anambra State without any positive response,”CLO lamented.

Mr Akaneme, said CLO, as a result of complications has visited Holy Rosary Hospital, NAUTH, UNTH, Memphis among others and exhausted all his money and needed immediate and urgent assistance from both Anambra State Government and public spirited individuals in other to save his life.

“We commend NUJ for establishing Appeal Fund to help him upset his hospital bills.
CLO equally appeal to ONICCIMA he served meritoriously and entire Onitsha business community to launch Special Appeal Fund to help him in this pathetic predicament,” said CLO

The group said Government and security personnel should ensure that perpetrators of the heinous atrocity should be brought to book to serve as a deterrent. to others.