An Imo State-based practicing lawyer, Charles K. Mgbekonye has cried out over alleged threat to his life.
Barrister Mgbekonye said besides receiving threat calls from hidden numbers, an attempt was on Saturday, October 26 made on his life in Owerri, Imo State.
The lawyer is a member of the legal team defending detained activist and broadcaster, Theodore Chinonso Ubah popularly known as Nonsonkwa in a case of treason, conspiracy and arson filed against him by Imo State.
In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mgbekonye detailed how he was waylaid by assailants while returning to his residence in Owerri and he had to reverse and flee to a nearby police station to save his life.
According to him, the assailants blocked his vehicle at the Toronto MCC Road Owerri on Saturday, October 26 with a black Toyota car and he quickly reversed and ran into the Toronto Police Divisional headquarters for protection.
After escaping from the assailants, he disclosed that they later called him with a hidden number and repeated their threat to him to withdraw legal representation for Nonsonkwa if he wishes to continue to live on the earth.
Barrister Mgbekonye explained that as a legal practitioner, he is simply performing his professional duty within the bound of law and as such should not be subjected to any inhuman treatment for so doing.
He stated that his life and that of his colleagues in chamber are now under serious threat hence his complaint to the IGP., Kayode Egbetokun.
Barrister Mgbekonye therefore requested the IGP to intervene before the assailants would succeed in carrying out their threat of murder.
Recall that Nonsonkwa was arrested on Sunday, October 21, 2024 by armed men along Port Harcourt Road Owerri.
The manner of his arrest made eyewitnesses to conclude that he was kidnapped.
Police authorities kept mute over enquiries concerning his seizure till Monday, October 22 when the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO ASP Henry Okoye issued a statement owning up to Nonsonkwa’s arrest by the police.
The police arraigned him before a magistrate court on Wednesday, October 24 on charges of treason, conspiracy, arson and related offences.
The Magistrate His Worship Adikaibe declined bail for Nonsonkwa on ground of lack of jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Adikaibe went ahead to remand Nonsonkwa at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Owerri and adjourned the matter to November 12 for receipt of the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) report.
