Death of Ezza North APC chairman scares members in Ebonyi

Tension heightened on Wednesday in Ebonyi State over the mysterious death of Barrister Ernest Odu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Ezza North Local Government of the state.

Family of the diseased and APC members in the state are said to have raised suspicions, demanding for autopsy.

Odu, a lawyer was reported to have slumped and died in a three star hotel owned by one of the APC chieftains from Ebonyi state at Upper Chime avenue, Independence Layout Enugu during a meeting of the Dr. Ognonnaya Onu-led faction of the APC.

A family source who pleaded anonymity, yesterday said though the exact cause of Odu’s death could not yet be declared, the family would approach the police for an autopsy adding that there is strong suspicion that the deceased might have died of food poisoning.

He alleged that the mystery surrounding the death of the Chairman might not be unconnected to his opposition to the emergence of APC governorship candidate from his council area for the 2019 general election.

The source said that the deceased attended the party meeting, healthy, saying that having died after he was served food and other consumables during the meeting fuelled the family’s suspicion.

Piqued by the development, a group under the auspices of Ezza Youth Vanguard has called on the Ebonyi State Police Command and the State Security Service to unravel the cause of the death of the deceased to avoid further speculations and accusation.

The group in a press release signed by its Chairman, Comrade Chukwuma Nworie expressed worries as to how the young lawyer would die under the circumstance.

“We received with great shock the death of our brother and legal practitioner and the controversy surrounding his death. We therefore call on the State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the death to put an end to speculations.

We have heard some people allege that he died in a hotel, the police should unravel the true story of what happened and if there are any foul play, then necessary action should be taken.

“We won’t just allow our son to die and nothing is heard or said about his death. The best we can do as a people is to unravel the controversy surrounding his death and fraying nerves calmed”.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu who confirmed the incident to Daily Times said that the matter had not been formally reported to the command for necessary action.