Okon-Aku Community Crisis: Absence of Defendant Stalls Arraignment, Police Insist on Justice
The failure of Chief Bernard Kama Inyama to appear in court for his arraignment over alleged murder charges connected to the Okon-Aku, Ohafia crisis of January 2, 2026, stalled the arraignment of eight other suspects who were present in court on Thursday.
The case, with charge number HU/20C/2026, Inspector General of Police v. Bernard Kama Inyama, came before Hon. Justice Chido Nwakanma of the Abia State High Court in Umuahia.
Bernard Kama Inyama is the first defendant on the charge sheet filed by the police among those suspected to be linked to the murder of Mr. Igwe Akuma, a youth leader in the Okon-Aku, Ohafia community.
Counsel to the first defendant, Chief Uche Ihediwa (SAN), told the court that his client was absent because he had not been duly served with the notice to appear in court.
He also served the prosecution with a preliminary objection challenging the arraignment and urged the court to grant bail to the other suspects.
However, the police prosecutor, ACP Rimamsomte Ezekiel, argued that Bernard Kama had been served with the court processes since May 2026. He prayed the court to grant the police another opportunity to serve Bernard Kama, including through his WhatsApp number.
Justice Nwakanma subsequently adjourned the matter until July 28, 2026, for the prosecution to respond to the preliminary objection and for the possible arraignment of the defendants. The eight other suspects were remanded in police custody.
Speaking shortly after the court proceedings, ACP Ezekiel alleged that Bernard Kama Inyama ordered the killing of Igwe Akuma following a dispute between them.
He said, “We came to court for arraignment and plea, but the defendant failed to appear. Instead, he sent his lawyer, who filed a preliminary objection challenging the powers of the police to prosecute the matter without the fiat of the Attorney General.
“That application is merely intended to waste the time of the court. Under Section 66(1) and (2) of the Police Act 2020, Section 104(c) of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2017, and Sections 174 and 211 of the 1999 Constitution, the police have the power to prosecute criminal cases. We do not require the fiat of the Attorney General.”
The prosecutor cited the Supreme Court decision in Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Osahon (2006) in support of his argument that the police have the authority to prosecute criminal cases from the lower courts up to the Supreme Court without the Attorney General’s fiat.
ACP Ezekiel further stated that the case is supported by an autopsy report and a confessional statement.
He described Bernard Kama as the alleged mastermind of the offence, alleging that the eight other defendants produced in court were his aides.
“He knows he has a case to answer. What he did is an offence against the state, against God, and against humanity. Whether he likes it or not, he must appear in court,” the prosecutor said.
He further disclosed that Bernard Kama was served with court processes in Abuja in May but failed to appear. He alleged that the suspect used the influence of some retired and serving senior police officers to avoid being remanded during the investigation after giving an undertaking to appear in court, which he allegedly failed to honour.
ACP Ezekiel assured that the police would do everything within their power to arrest Bernard Kama and produce him before the court on the next adjourned date.
