…hearing fixed for 17th December, 2024
By Ime Silas
If the court processes, petition to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, videos, photographs and attached Medical Report in our Paper’s possession are to be relied upon, then the first son of the Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr. Eno Umo Eno may be jailed for alleged attempted murder on Mr. Michael Chiedozie Ekwuruke.
In an Affidavit In Support Of Motion dated 5th December, 2024, sworn to, and filed in Etinan Judicial Division of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, the applicant (Michael Chiedozie Ekwuruke), a bolt driver said he was seriously beaten to the point of losing consciousness by the governor’s son, Mr. Eno Umo Eno.
If convicted, penalty for attempted murder, according to section 320 of the Criminal Code, is life imprisonment.
The applicant’s affidavit reveals that the incident took place during the night hours of 26th November, 2024.
According to the victim “That as a bolt driver, on 26/11/2024, I had a booking on Bolt platform at about 2:52 am from a customer who turns out to be the Respondent, who requested that I convey him in my car from Villa Hilton Hotel to Mitchel Suite in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, on agreed fee of N7,000.00 (Seven Thousand Naira) only.
“That I conveyed the Respondent from Villa Hilton Hotel to Mitchel Suite, then from Mitchel Suite to Mayflower (on Oron Road), and from Mayflower back to Villa Hilton Hotel, but that on reaching Villa Hilton Hotel, the Respondent reneged on the agreed fees, but instead offered to pay me N5,000.00 (Five Thousand Naira) only.
“That I disagreed with the counter-offer of N5,000.00 offered me by the Respondent, but demanded for the full agreed fees.
“That the Respondent, became angry on my insistence that he should pay me my full agreed fees, went ahead to assault and beat me up, to the amazement of his friends who were just watching and stood by, until I lost consciousness within the precinct of Villa Hilton Hotel.
“That I regained consciousness from the severe beatings from the Respondent at about 6:30 am of 26/11/2024. That I managed to put a call to the Respondent and demanded for my fees and explanation why he treated me the way he did. The Respondent responded that I deserved the beatings he gave me”.
Michael Chiedozie further averred that the governor’s son attacked him again, this time at his (governor’s son) residence at A-line, Ewet Housing Estate, where he went to insist on full payment of his due.
At the second scene of the alleged attack being the governor’s residence, Michael said he escaped being killed through the Security Personnel’s intervention.
He said in his Affidavit “That I was only saved from being killed by the Respondent through the intervention of the Security Personnel who rushed in to whisk me off the grip and beatings of the Respondent.
“That the Respondent boasted there and then, that at any point and place he sees me that he will deal ruthlessly with me”.
Pictures and parts of the videos of the alleged attempted murder incident sighted by our paper, showed the victim’s bruised face, swollen lips, and deep cuts, while his attacker, Eno Umo Eno could be heard saying in the video “… I’m going through a lot o, and you come and add your own there. Thank God say you no go meet my mama for where she dey”.
When contacted, a senior police officer at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command Headquarters, Ikot AkpanAbia, who did not wish to be named in this report, confirmed receipt of the petition, but declined availing more details of their actions in respect to the petition.
Also, a medical report on ‘Medical Form D5’ dated 26th November, 2024 and signed by Dr. Idaresit Udoh, recorded multiple bruises on face, upper and lower lips amongst other degrees of injuries. The Medical Report which was countersigned by one Inspector Udo of the Anti Robbery Squad, acknowledged the offense as attempted murder.
When our correspondent visited the Villa Hilton Hotel, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo for a further confirmation and details of the incident, a Staff of the hotel who preferred anonymity on the ground that he has not been authorized to speak on the matter, however said he witnessed the attack.
He further noted that though he could not speak fully on detailed identity of the very guest who beat up the bolt driver, he described what he saw as “…a very terrifying…” incident, adding that all entreaties to the alleged attacker to pay off the bolt driver fell on deaf ears.
All efforts to speak with Eno Umo Eno on the matter proved abortive as calls to his known two telephone numbers were not responded to.
He did not also respond to a message sent to his WhatsApp accounts.
Meanwhile, a Motion On Notice in suit No: HET/FHR.53/2024, dated 5th December, 2024 and signed by Emem Adam (Counsel for the Applicant) of Emem Adam & Associates, showed that parties in the matter are to appear in court on Tuesday, 17th December, 2024, for hearing.