The Enugu State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, has denied allegations linking him to suspects recently arraigned by the police over vandalism of public infrastructure. The allegations were published by SaharaReporters, which claimed that the suspects were connected to the commissioner and that he attempted to interfere with judicial proceedings.
In a press statement signed and released in Enugu on December 20, 2025, by Dr. Chidipeters Okorie, Personal Media Aide to Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh and the Enugu State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Enugu State Government, the commissioner described the report as misleading and poorly investigated. He stated that he neither sent a lawyer to court nor had any involvement with the accused persons, adding that the lawyer mentioned during court proceedings was privately engaged by the suspects and not acting on his behalf.
The statement further noted that Dr. Ezeh was never questioned by the police, indicted by any court, or named by the suspects.
Dr. Okorie set out a detailed rebuttal, defending Dr. Eze and calling on SaharaReporters to issue a correction.
The statement is reproduced verbatim below:
The attention of the Enugu State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, has been drawn to a sensational, misleading, and poorly investigated report published by SaharaReporters alleging that hoodlums arraigned by the police are “linked” to him and that he attempted to interfere with judicial proceedings.
We categorically reject and condemn this report in its entirety. It is a classic example of irresponsible journalism, built on conjecture, courtroom gossip, and the deliberate twisting of facts to malign the reputation of a public servant whose record of service speaks loudly for itself.
First, at no time did Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh send a lawyer to court to represent, defend, or seek the discharge of any suspect. This is a blatant falsehood. The lawyer referenced in court was privately hired by the accused persons, not by the Honourable Commissioner. Any attempt to attribute the actions or statements of that counsel to Dr. Ezeh is intellectually dishonest and legally indefensible.
Second, the individuals orchestrating this narrative are well known to us. They are desperate actors who have failed politically and socially, and who now seek relevance through blackmail, media manipulation, and the criminalisation of an innocent public official. Their objective is clear: to frame the Honourable Commissioner by proxy, having failed to find any direct or credible evidence linking him to criminal conduct.
Third, common sense alone exposes the absurdity of the allegation. Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh is not only the current Commissioner for Science and Technology; years before his appointment, he personally facilitated and supported the rehabilitation of electrical installations in Nkanu East and played a key role in connecting parts of Nkanu East Local Government Area to the national grid.
“It defies all logic that a man who invested his personal credibility, resources, and political capital into bringing electricity to these communities would suddenly sponsor or benefit from the vandalisation of the same infrastructure. This contradiction was conveniently ignored by SaharaReporters because it does not fit their predetermined storyline.
“Fourth, SaharaReporters deliberately blurred critical lines between allegations, suspicions, and facts. The Commissioner was never named as a defendant, never questioned by the police, never indicted by the court, and never mentioned by any suspect as having issued instructions. Yet, through suggestive language and strategic placement of names, the report sought to achieve what the law does not permit: trial by media.
“We further note with concern the attempt to weaponise the suffering of the Mburubu community for political ends. Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh has consistently stood for peace, development, and the protection of public infrastructure. He welcomes a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation by security agencies—one that is driven by evidence, not vendetta.
“Finally, we call on SaharaReporters to retrace its steps, uphold journalistic ethics, and issue a correction. The media must not allow itself to be used as a tool for personal grudges and orchestrated smear campaigns.
“Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh remains focused on his mandate to advance science, technology, and infrastructure development in Enugu State, and he will not be distracted by mundane, ill-motivated, and defamatory reports.”
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