The Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology in Enugu State, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, has denied allegations linking him to violent attacks in Mburubu community, Nkanu East Local Government Area, describing the claims as false, malicious, and unsupported by facts.
The denial was contained in a press statement issued in Enugu and addressed to journalists by Dr. Chidipeters Okorie, Personal Media Aide to the Commissioner. The statement responded to what it described as a series of false publications and videos allegedly sponsored by a man impersonating the Igwe-Elect of Mburubu community, Mr Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe, which accused Dr Ezeh of sponsoring violence in the community.
According to the statement, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh has no connection whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, to any act of violence, intimidation, or criminality in Mburubu or elsewhere. It stressed that at no time did the Commissioner sponsor, finance, encourage, or deploy hoodlums to advance any political or personal interest, adding that the allegations were fabricated to tarnish his reputation and inflame community tensions.
The statement further alleged that recent claims by Hon. Egbo Obinna Stephen and others were sponsored by Mr. Onuokaibe, who is reportedly restrained by a court of competent jurisdiction from presenting himself as Igwe-Elect or claiming the traditional throne. Courts, the statement noted, have disqualified Onuokaibe and barred him from contesting the Igweship.
It emphasised that no security agency, including the Nigeria Police Force, has invited, questioned, arrested, or indicted Dr. Ezeh in connection with the alleged unrest in Mburubu. According to the statement, there is no petition, investigative report, or official record linking the Commissioner to the incidents, warning that repeated media publication does not amount to proof under the law.
The statement described the allegations as an attempt to exploit an ongoing Igweship tussle in Mburubu, a dispute that predates Dr. Ezeh’s appointment and over which he has no statutory authority. It accused Mr. Onuokaibe of persistently flouting court judgments and orders, noting that self-coronation in defiance of the courts undermines tradition and the rule of law.
Reiterating the position of the Mburubu community, the statement called for respect for court decisions, obedience to the law, an end to the criminalisation of Mburubu youths, and the cessation of propaganda, while urging that a lawful, customary, and peaceful process be allowed to prevail.
The Commissioner’s public record, the statement said, contradicts the allegations against him, describing Dr. Ezeh as a technocrat and reform-minded public servant focused on innovation, digital transformation, and youth-centred initiatives in line with the agenda of Governor Peter Mbah.
It further accused Mr. Onuokaibe of branding Mburubu youths as criminals, IPOB/ESN members, and unknown gunmen without proof. According to the statement, some youths and elders were arrested, detained, and allegedly dehumanised for about 10 days, only for Mr. Onuokaibe to later bail them, a development the statement said exposed the weakness of the accusations.
Serious allegations were also made against Onuokaibe himself. The statement claimed that armed individuals under his influence carried out coordinated attacks on residents who opposed him, destroying property and vandalising homes. One particularly alarming incident involved the abduction of a four-year-old child in Umudara Mburubu by armed thugs allegedly sponsored by Onuokaibe. The thugs, reportedly intending to confront the child’s father, who was not at home, instead abducted the child. According to the statement, the child sustained a fractured leg after being thrown from a moving motorcycle when villagers raised the alarm. Additionally, a youth in the community was reportedly shot and injured by armed men allegedly acting under Onuokaibe’s direction.
The statement asked why armed men sponsored by Onuokaibe shot one of the youths opposing his “ambition to enthrone himself as the Igwe.”
According to the statement, Onuokaibe’s latest actions are attempts to suppress the truth by circulating false and misleading information through paid agents to evade accountability.
The statement reiterated that Dr. Ezeh has consistently advocated peace, dialogue, and lawful processes in resolving community disputes and has no interest in escalating tension in Mburubu or any other community. It called on community leaders, youths, and stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid spreading unverified claims capable of inciting violence.
Concern was also expressed over what was described as the failure of some media reports to observe basic standards of fairness and balance, noting that Dr. Ezeh was not contacted for his response before publication.
The statement also warned that legal action may be taken against individuals or platforms that continue to publish defamatory content, stressing that freedom of expression does not include the freedom to defame.
Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh reaffirmed his commitment to his duties as Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology and to the service of the people of Enugu State, stating that he would not be distracted by falsehoods or intimidation, and that allegations are not evidence and justice cannot be built on lies.
It will be recalled that the Enugu State Government, in a letter dated February 25, had approved the election of a new traditional ruler for Mburubu community, scheduled for February 28, 2025, at the Community Primary School in Mburubu. However, the process was disrupted by Onuokaibe, who reportedly invaded the venue with armed thugs, defying a subsequent court order.
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