Murder of DPO: Cassidy Ikegbidi Still Has Case, Human Rights NGO Insist. Petitions President Tinubu, IGP.

A Human Rights NGO based in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital, the Rivers Coalition for Human Rights (RCHR), has reacted to a recent court judgement, which acquitted High Chief Cassidy O.W. Ikegbidi of culpability in the murder of the DPO of Ahoada Division, SP. Bako Amgbashim.

Describing the acquittal of Cassidy Ikegbidi as a "travesty of justice", the group alleged that there was a "deliberate bungling of the investigation and prosecution by compromised police officers and State prosecutors". This according to the group in the petition led to the Miscarriage of Justice in the case of High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, a key mastermind of the death of late DPO of Ahoada Division, SP. Bako Amgbashim and orchestrator of scores of other killings in Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State.



The group alleged that in the desperate bid to ensure that the true story of how DPO Bako Amgbashim was murdered remains buried, "facts and evidences relating to the matter were suppressed in a sinister bid to procure freedom for High Chief Ikegbidi. A thorough investigation will unravel the criminal nexus between High Chief Ikegbidi and the terror gang led by 2Baba and the murder of SP. Bako Amgbashim and scores of other killings in the Igbuh Akoh area".



The petition is reproduced below:

Rivers Coalition for Human Rights (RCHR)
#13 Agudama Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Tel: 08064758981



The Inspector General of Police
Lous Edet House
Abuja. Nigeria

4th May, 2024

Sir,
Petition on the deliberate bungling of the investigation and prosecution by compromised police officers and State prosecutors and Miscarriage of Justice in the case of High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, a key mastermind of the death of late DPO of Ahoada Division, SP. Bako Amgbashim and orchestrator of scores of other killings in Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State.


We are constrained to cry out to you over what we perceive as deliberate lack of diligent prosecution and improper investigation by some compromised police officers in Rivers state, with the sole intent of muddling up the arraignment of a key mastermind of the murder of the late DPO of Ahoada Division, SP. Bako Amgbashim. We have it on good authority that the Police prosecuting team were leaned upon and compromised to sabotage the trial of the alleged mastermind who was arraigned before a law court in Rivers State, which resulted in his acquittal.


In the wake of the gruesome and brutal murder of Police Superintendent Bako Amgbashim, one of the suspects arrested was High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi, who was a known patron and accomplice of Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a 2 baba and his terror gang, who advertised in a video that went viral that they killed the gallant police officer.


We are troubled that High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi and others implicated in the brutal killing and dozens of other murders in Ekpeyeland, were recently acquitted owing to the compromise of the officers charged with the prosecution of the case. It may interest you to know that in his desperation to escape from Justice, High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi was alleged to have showered over N40m on the Police team. If this procured acquittal is allowed to stand, it would amount to a travesty of justice as the hands of High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi and his terror gang are dripping with the blood of Ekpeye people and other Nigerians.


For instance the native doctor who confessed that he saw and recognised Chief Cassidy at the camp of 2 Baba when he went to perfect the charm to demobilize Bako,was mysteriously murdered in Police custody. The native doctor positively identified Chief Ikegbidi during the suspects parade. The commander of Octopus Strike Unit, Superintendent Livinis Iwuh who was in custody of the confessional videos and tapes refused to release them to the authorities and was surreptitiously transferred out of Rivers State, at a time he should have been a key prosecution witness.


The former Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, was fully briefed on Cassidy Ikegbidi's complicity in the heinous murder, and was fully aware of the strength of the evidence gathered in the course of the investigation. Thus was why he ordered the arrest and arraignment of Cassidy Ikegbidi. Both Police officers should be sumoned to appear to throw more light on the matter.


Other accomplices and gang members of 2Baba, who were arrested including the one who confessed that they killed a pregnant mad woman in Bayelsa, in other to use the feotus to prepare a charm, all pointed to Cassidy Ikegbidi as a key patron of their terror gang and their leader, 2Baba.


From the above mentioned examples, it is clear that facts and evidences were suppressed in a sinister bid to procure freedom for High Chief Ikegbidi. A thorough investigation will unravel the criminal nexus between High Chief Ikegbidi and the terror gang led by 2Baba and the murder of SP. Bako Amgbashim and scores of other killings in the Igbuh Akoh area.


It will interest you to note that since 2015, the people of Igbuh Akuh Kingdom, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been grappling with unresolved systematic and calculated mass killings, which were orchestrated by High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi , Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a 2 baba) and their terror gang. Within this period acts of terrorisms, mass murder, rape, abuse of rights by criminal elements working under the direct control of High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi , Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a 2 Baba) and their terror gang, led to the total desertion of villages of Igbuh Akuh by the people for fear of death and destructions of properties.


Listed below are the results of the gory harvest of death, blood spilling, unleashed on the innocent people of Igbuh Akuh Kigndom, by High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi , Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a 2 baba) and their terror gang. A state of anomie and hopelessness was unleashed on the poor innocent people. Due to fear and poverty, a lot of these murder cases remained unresolved, which only emboldened the culprits to kill SP Bako Angbashim.


 On February 6th 2016, on the instructions of the suspects , particularly High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, one Dr. Vincent Enwukagbiyor was killed in cold blood by cult group headed by Gift David (2 Baba). We have attached victims’ pictures for better clarifications.
 On the 10th of June, 2017 the same cult group led by 2 Baba on the instruction of High Chief Cassidy murdered one Dr. Studio Aguyi.
 On the 12th of February, Mrs. Chigbewejim Lawyer was killed by the suspects herein mentioned.
 On the 4th of May, 2023 Mr. Mattew Ebenezer from Abarikpo was killed by the suspects on record.
 Aburi Edi Dickson also an indigene of Abarikpo was killed on the 31st of May , 2023
 The suspects on record masterminded the murder of Papa Eze on the 13th of July, 2022.
 Chief Alugo Joseph was killed on the 28th of April 2022abour 9.20 am, he is from Odhiaje Community.
 Chukwu Kpasa was killed on the 8th of May, 2022. He is from Odiemerenyi.
 Chief Ayada Sunday was killed on the 21st of September, 2021 from Odiemude community.
 Barr. Nathan E. Akatakpo, a Uk trained Lawyer who recently came home for visits was murdered in cold blood and his body mutilated by the suspects on the 21sth of November at about 7:30 Pm, the said lawyer is from Ogbo Community.
 Happy C. Allen was killed on the 1st of December, 2022 at about 1 am; he is a native of Ogbo Community.
 Elder Jamed Okorji was killed on the 5th of September 2022, he is from Ihuagbogo Community.
 Mr. Lazarus Jerome was killed on the 23rd of November, 2022. He is from Ihuagbogo Community.
(Find attached pictorial evidence of these heinous murders)


We are therefore constrained to reach out to your good office to urgently intervene by ordering for a transfer of the investigations to Force Headquarters in Abuja and a fresh arraignment of High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi to avoid it being compromised by tainted police officers, who may have been procured to deliver a hidden agenda.


Dependents of all the victims enumerated above shall be produced during the course of investigations. We pray you to use your good offices to ensure that justice is not only seen to be done in this matter but to send a message to criminals and their cohorts anywhere in Nigeria that nobody is above the law.


Signed


Comrade Solomon Olali
Convener


Hanna Ekadi
Secretary


Jenewari Briggs
Investigation and Advocacy Officer.


C.C.
1. The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2. The Senate President
3. The Speaker, House of Representatives
4. The Honourable Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
5. The National Security Adviser to the President
6. The Director General, Department of State Services (DSS)