Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 06/Sep 11:41

Murder Of Police Officer: Okolie Confirms Ownership Of Firearms Amid Controversy, Claims Innocence

The controversy surrounding the alleged involvement of Chief Hyacinth Okolie, the Ihonor of Ogwashi-Uku, in the murder of a police officer has continued to stir tensions in the Ogbe Ubu community. Despite Okolie’s denial of any wrongdoing, community members insist that he has a case to answer, vowing to seek justice for the slain officer.The community has alleged that Okolie was linked to the 2018 murder of Inspector Itobi Green, claiming that dangerous criminals who worked with him were involved in the crime. However, in a phone interview, Chief Okolie dismissed the accusations as a "witch-hunt," maintaining his innocence.“Why are they bringing this issue up again after five years?” Okolie questioned, adding that he had already been exonerated from the case. According to him, he was only charged with unlawful possession of firearms, not murder, as the community has claimed.He further defended himself, stating, “The individuals who the community claims collaborated with me to kill the police officer couldn’t even prove any connection to me. They don’t know my phone number or any serious details, so how could they have worked with me?”Chief Okolie claimed that the case was withdrawn from court and denied allegations that he bribed his way to freedom. He acknowledged owning firearms but insisted they were properly licensed. Despite promising to provide proof of his firearms licenses, which he claimed had been renewed until 2034, he later refused to send any evidence, citing advice from his lawyer.It was also clarified by the reporter that Okolie was not officially exonerated, as he claimed. Instead, the case was dropped through a legal procedure known as "nolle prosequi" by the Director of Public Prosecutions. This means the charges could potentially be refiled in the future.“I bought the gun in Lagos when armed robbers were terrorizing homes. As a retired Customs officer, I purchased a pump-action gun for self-defense and registered it,” Okolie explained, defending his decision to own firearms.However, his claims came into question after Force Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, during a briefing by the Office of the National Security Adviser on September 6, 2024, emphasized that backdated firearm licenses are considered invalid. He warned that possession of firearms without a valid license is punishable by law.  He warned that the use of arms in the country presently is illegal, adding that it is punishable under the law to possess one and there was no confirmation from the police that an exception had been made for Okolie.A review of the case file, including police reports and witness statements, revealed no mention of a gun license presented by Okolie at the time of his arrest for alleged involvement in gunrunning, murder, and other crimes.In a related development, the Ogbe Ubu community has accused Chief Okolie of working to destabilize the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom and attempting to cede portions of its land to outsiders. These allegations surfaced following a meeting on August 26, 2024, where concerns were raised about Okolie’s role in undermining the unity of the kingdom.The family of the late Inspector Itobi Green, who was murdered by an armed robbery gang allegedly linked to Okolie, has appealed to the Presidency and the Federal Attorney General for intervention. According to a family spokesperson, the case is currently under review in Abuja following the release of Chief Hyacinth Okolie, the alleged primary suspect.