Former Ebonyi PDP chairman, three others held for alleged cult activities, forgery
In Abakaliki, a Magistrate Court has ordered Augustine Nwazunku, the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, along with three other individuals, to be held in custody due to serious allegations of cultism, forgery, impersonation, and the wrongful suspension of Chief Ali Odefa, the South East National Vice Chairman of the PDP.
Magistrate Ojemba Isu-oko denied the defendants’ request for bail, which was submitted by their lawyer, U. A. Obasi. The four suspects will remain in prison until November 18, 2024.
The charges against Nwazunku and his co-defendants—Obinna Nwachukwu, Njoku Nwagwu, and Ogbonnaya Idika—include accusations of forging a letter that falsely claimed to come from PDP executives in the Ogudu-Okwor ward, stating that Chief Odefa had been suspended.
They are also alleged to be members of the banned secret cult known as the Vikings confraternity, which violates Ebonyi State law that prohibits secret cult activities and carrying dangerous weapons.
According to the charges, on October 2, 2024, in Ogudu-Okwor Onicha, the defendants conspired to commit several serious offenses, including cultism and forgery, which could disturb public peace.
The allegations claim that the group misrepresented themselves as executives of the Ogudu-Okwor ward, potentially misleading others and causing unrest within the PDP.
Previously, Mr. Nwazunku managed the HIV and AIDS Agency in Ebonyi State and ran for governor in the 2023 election against his brother, Chukwuma.
