To:
British High Commission Abuja &
UK Foreign Affairs Minister
Subject: Urgent Request for Immediate Investigation into the Case Involving British Citizen Andrew Ochekwo
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Ben Samuel, and I am a blogger based in the UK. I am reaching out to you concerning a deeply troubling case that urgently requires your investigative expertise. This is the second time I am reaching out regarding this matter, and I implore you to treat it with the utmost urgency, as you would if the British citizen involved, Andrew Ochekwo, were white.
Background of the Case
On April 27, 2024, Andrew Ochekwo invited Celine, a Nigerian citizen, and her friend Afiba, a Ghanaian citizen, to spend the weekend with him in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Afiba, who was visiting her friend Blessing Onyinye in Port Harcourt, accompanied Celine to Aba. On April 28, 2024, Afiba sent an SOS message to Blessing, claiming they had been kidnapped by Andrew. Despite exchanging multiple messages, including Afiba sending her location, communication was abruptly cut off. Unfortunately, Blessing did not promptly alert the authorities or Afiba’s family.
The crucial SOS message was withheld from the authorities and Afiba’s family for 48 hours, during which Andrew remained at large. Law enforcement did not immediately apprehend Andrew, and it wasn’t until May 7, 2024, that authorities arrived at his residence to arrest him. Andrew barricaded himself inside, denying the kidnapping allegations and asserting that the girls had left his home on the morning of April 28, 2024. After intense negotiations led by Commander Oracle, the head of Anti kidnapping department of NPF in Aba , Andrew was arrested in the early hours of May 8, 2024. The police subsequently conducted a searched of his home and transported Andrew to the state police headquarters in Umuahia.
During Andrew’s custody period from May 8 to May 21, 2024, police investigations suggested that the girls might have staged their own kidnapping to extort money from Andrew. One of the missing girls’ phones was tracked to Owerri, yet when the police were on the verge of granting Andrew bail when the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) intervened with a transfer request, allegedly from the Inspector General of Police. The letter, however, did not contain Andrew’s or the missing girls’ names. Despite initial objections, Andrew was handed over to the IRT team and transported in a white van with tinted glass.
On May 21, 2024, the IRT team took Andrew back to his home, recorded their activities on video, and then took him to a local hotel in Aba instead of heading directly to Abuja. Andrew met with his lawyer at the hotel and was assured that this was routine due to the Ghanaian embassy’s involvement. The following day, they checked out and began their journey to Abuja, with Andrew driving his 2017 E220 Mercedes-Benz while one officer sat beside him and the others followed in the white van. Instead of heading to Abuja, they diverted to Uyo, where they spent two nights in another hotel. During this period, substantial sums of money were extorted from Andrew, who expressed his fears to me.
On May 24, 2024, after leaving the Uyo hotel, the journey was further diverted to Benue State. Feeling more like a hostage, Andrew informed me of his deteriorating situation. The officers spent two more nights in Benue, demanding money and threatening Andrew with torture. On May 26, 2024, Andrew managed to escape after a coercive money exchange with an officer. He informed me of his escape and shared his location. I advised him to return to the police, fearing a setup. Following this call, I lost contact with Andrew. When I inquired about Andrew’s status, I was informed that he was in Abuja. It was later revealed that Andrew was killed shortly after his escape.
Key Issues and Observations
- Delay in Reporting: Blessing Onyinye significantly delayed reporting Afiba’s SOS message to the authorities or Afiba’s family, waiting 48 hours before taking any action. This delay is critical as it may have severely hindered the chances of a timely rescue operation. Timeliness is often crucial in emergency situations, and the 48-hour delay likely allowed Andrew Ochekwo to evade immediate capture, reducing the effectiveness of any subsequent interventions.
- Questionable Police Actions: The police response to the allegations against Andrew Ochekwo was notably slow and suspicious. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, Andrew was not immediately apprehended. When the police finally acted, it was only after several days and extensive negotiations, which raises questions about their commitment to solving the case. There were also disturbing indications of a potential cover-up, as the police suggested that the girls might have staged their own kidnapping. This insinuation casts doubt on the credibility and intentions of the authorities involved, suggesting they might have been more interested in protecting certain individuals than in seeking justice.
- Suspicious Transfer and Death: The circumstances surrounding Andrew’s transfer to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) were highly suspicious. A letter facilitating his transfer failed to include the names of the missing girls or Andrew, raising red flags about the transparency and legitimacy of the process. Additionally, Andrew’s movements during this period were questionable; he stayed in hotels and was subject to extortion. His death, which occurred shortly after an alleged escape attempt, suggests foul play and potential misconduct by the IRT. The sequence of events indicates a possible attempt to silence Andrew permanently, thereby preventing him from revealing crucial information about the case.
- Human Remains Found: The discovery of human remains near Andrew’s home further complicates the case. The remains were found under suspicious circumstances, notably missing hands and a head, which could indicate foul play and attempts to obscure the identity of the victims. This discovery occurred after Andrew’s death, adding to the intrigue. Harrison Gwamnishu’s involvement, including moving some of Andrew’s properties without a warrant, raises concerns about potential evidence tampering. Harrison’s actions suggest that there might be more to the story, and his motives and connections need to be thoroughly investigated.
- Disappearance of Key Witnesses: Following Andrew’s death, Blessing, the initial recipient of Afiba’s SOS message, disappeared and deactivated all her social media accounts. This sudden vanishing act raises several questions: Was she involved in the events that transpired? Is she in fear for her safety? Or does she possess crucial knowledge about the case that she is now unable or unwilling to share? Her disappearance adds another layer of complexity to the investigation and underscores the need for a thorough and unbiased inquiry. My Observations: 2
- Initial Delay by Blessing: Blessing received an urgent SOS message from Afiba but did not forward it to anyone for 48 hours. This delay is critical and could have significantly impacted the outcome of the situation. Immediate reporting could have mobilized authorities and increased the chances of a timely rescue.
- Travel to Abuja: Instead of filing a petition Aba , where she based, Blessing traveled to Abuja and filed the petition on May 10th. The decision to travel such a long distance raises questions about her motives and whether there were specific reasons for bypassing local authorities. This action also caused further delay in addressing the urgent situation.