<<Print>>

Eze Samuel Ekezie, the purported Igbo chief at Sempe in Accra, was yesterday arrested by some officials believed to be operatives of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) at the Accra Circuit Court 1. He had been arraigned before the court for allegedly threatening the life of one Eze Geoffrey Makwugwo, who also claims to be the chief of the entire Igbo community in Ghana. It was unclear whether the arrest of the �Igbo king� had any link with the matter before the court. Eze Ekezie is facing two charges of threat of death and discharging firearm without lawful authority contrary to Section 7A of the Arms and Ammunition Act of NRCD 9 � a charge he has pleaded not guilty to. Taking Cover At the trial yesterday, Eze Makwugwo narrated how Eze Ekezie, used a pump action gun to threaten his life and others at a gathering. He told the court, presided over by Francis Obiri that he became afraid when he saw the accused with the gun, prompting him and his entourage to run for their lives. �My people and I became afraid and so we started running away,� Eze Makwugwo said amidst spontaneous laughter in the court. Claiming he was installed in the country as chief of the Igbo community in Ghana, he said he was the recognized representative of the said people in the country. The Facts Briefing the court, Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka said the complainant, Geoffrey, is a businessman and resident of North Kaneshie, Accra, while the accused is also a traditional chief resident at Dansoman. He said on March 23, 2014, Chief Agbawodikizu Aaron, a Nigerian businessman and witness in the case, organized a naming ceremony for his newly born baby girl at Patase Gardens, Mallam Junction � a function a lot of Nigerian citizens resident in Accra and its environs attended, including the accused person. Chief Supt. Tuaruka stated that whiles the ceremony was ongoing and the dignitaries present were about to be introduced, the accused collected the microphone from the MC and ordered Geoffrey to leave the ceremony else he would kill him with a gun. The prosecutor further averred that the announcement made by Eze Ekezie put fear into almost every person present, adding that the accused immediately rushed to his car and picked his pump action gun with registration number AAW14861/2009 and started firing indiscriminately. Chief Supt. Tuaruka indicated that Geoffrey, sensing danger and realizing that his life was being threatened, immediately took to his heels, reported the case to the police and the accused was subsequently arrested and the gun retrieved from him. Hearing continues on May 27.