By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – Trouble is brewing in Igga Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the death in detention of one Hon. Ikechukwu Fabian Eneanya.
365Daily gathered that Eneanya had been in prison custody without trial since September 2020 on the orders of the Enugu State Government and disputed traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Herbert Ukuta.
The late Eneanya, who was a former councillor representing Igga/Asaba Ward in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, was arrested on July 2020 for allegedly threatening the traditional ruler and promoting war in the community.
He was refused bail until he died in the early hours of Sunday, 9th May, 2021.
Investigations conducted by 365Daily revealed that the late Hon. Eneanya, after his arrest, was later charged to court for “promoting war among three communities” in the area.
The communities are Ojjor, Ogurugu and Igga.
A family source who spoke to our correspondent said since the late Eneanya was arrested in July 2020 alongside another member of the community, Vincent Okonkwo, a lawyer, and all efforts to secure their bail after they were “illegally” remanded in prison were rebuffed.
According to the source, this is despite the fact that late Eneanya had a proven terminal illness which was properly communicated to the court.
The family source revealed that the deceased was a lung cancer patient whose condition was worsened by his detention.
He stated that evidence of his health conditions was made available to the court, but he was still denied bail.
It was gathered that his condition got worse in detention until he was taken to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, for medical attention where he stayed about a week, and gave up the ghost in the early hours of Sunday May 9, 2021.
Also speaking on condition of anonymity, an elder of Igga community said that the fact that Barr. Vincent Okonkwo was still in detention despite the death of Eneanya was already inflaming tension in the community.
The duo of late Eneanya and Vincent Okonkwo were held at the Enugu and Nsukka Correctional Centres respectively.