The family of late Master Sunday Ejike Nnaji of Oruku community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, alleging an attempt to release a murder suspect who has been on the police wanted list for months.
The petition, dated September 26, 2025, was signed by Chief O.A.U. Onyema of OAU Onyema & Co., Legal Practitioners, on behalf of the victim’s mother, Mrs. Veronica Amuche Nnaji, and sister, Miss Kosisochukwu Nnaji.
In the strongly worded letter, the petitioners expressed deep concern that Mr. Ejike Mba—popularly known in Oruku as “Terrorist”—who was arrested on September 10 at a UBA branch in Independence Layout, Enugu, after a long manhunt, has not been charged to court two weeks after his arrest.
The family alleged that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), identified as Emmanuel, and the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, SP Chuks, were deliberately foot-dragging on the case despite overwhelming evidence, including confessional statements by three co-accused persons already remanded in correctional custody.
“Our clients approached us at our chambers with heavy heart and with bitter complain about the undue delay in charging to court the arrested suspected murderer of their son and brother,” Onyema wrote in the petition.
“They maintained that the officers of Anti-Kidnapping have invited them twice to indirectly persuade them, but they refused and requested that the culprit should be charged to court, unless he will bring back the dead person,” the petition further stated.
According to the petition, three men, identified as Messrs. A. Nnona, D. Ani and C. Ani, who are currently in custody, had confessed to the killing of Ejike Nnaji on December 14, 2024, after shooting him and throwing his body into a well. They reportedly told investigators that the act was planned and carried out alongside Mr. Ejike Mba.
The family accused the police of reneging on their initial promise to prosecute the matter swiftly. “Ever since then, the IPO who hitherto informed our clients that they will do justice to the matter and charge the culprit to court has not done that; and the Commander of Anti-Kidnapping is not equally living up to expectation,” Onyema noted.
The petitioners recalled that during Mba’s dramatic arrest, he resisted the police with a fight inside the bank before being subdued. They expressed fear that “powerful godfathers” backing the suspect may be influencing the case.
“Our clients are apprehensive that despite the earlier assurances given to them that justice will be done, when the culprit was arrested is turning to a hoax.
“The way and manner the Commander and IPO of Anti-Kidnapping are now foot-dragging does not satisfy them, and our clients feel that an awful decision against them and the society is being hatched, all in an attempt to surreptitiously let go the arrested person following suspected interventions of 5th columnists,” the petition reads.
The family insisted that they want justice served, not only for the memory of their slain son and brother but also for the peace of Oruku community. “Our clients cry for justice, and they implore you to use your exalted position to dispense justice, by ensuring that this culprit is brought to book to answer for his deeds,” Onyema prayed in the petition.
The petition was also copied to Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Attached to the petition were documents, including a Vanguard newspaper report of February 20, 2025, on earlier arrests in the case, a photograph of the victim’s body retrieved from the well, and his obituary poster.
As of press time, the Enugu State Police Command had yet to issue a public statement in response to the allegations.
