Peter Akpanke, PDP House of Reps Candidate Denies Killing Police Inspector

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Obudu, Bekwarra/ Obanliku Federal Constituency, Mr. Peter Akpanke, says he has no hand in the death of a Police Inspector, Emmanuel Martins. 

This followed an allegation levelled against him by the Cross River State Police Command in a statement by spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo in connection with the murder of Police Inspector Martins on May 25, 2022 during the party primaries election in Obudu LGA of Cross River State.

In his reaction to a press statement by the Police in Calabar declaring him wanted over the death of the police officer, Akpanke said, ”Why would anyone think that I was responsible for the death of a serving police officer who was legitimately discharging his constitutional role? I’m not so callous as some forces are trying to paint me.

“Kill an officer for what? I have never been uneccessarily desperate over things of the world. I have not been associated with murder.

“The allegations are politically motivated. Some highly placed individuals in Cross River State are the ones trying to see if I can be jailed or get me incarcerated until the elections are over.

“The matter had been fully investigated by the police. The Area Commander who covered the primary elections told them the person who brought the thugs to kill the police officer. The DSP from Puff Adder said the same thing, yet they are looking away from that.

“Even when they got the boy who murdered the police officer arrested and he confessed to the police that he shot the policeman, and told them who he was working for, nothing was done to that effect.

“And today, same police are pointing accusing finger at me of murdering the police officer. This is ridiculous. This is politically motivated just to scheme me out from participating in the electoral process which is some days away from now,” Akpanke said.

He challenged the police to show a proof that he did not honour any invitation extended to him.

“In criminal cases the accused must be served the charges. Can the police show any proof of service to me and I didn’t honour it?

“Why is the matter tried in calabar and not Obudu where the incident took place as Calabar lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter?

“Was I the only person involved? Why are others not being tried? The boy who killed the policeman has been arrested and he made confession. Why are they not looking into that?”

The police, acting on a court order by the Hon. Justice Blessing Ekpo of the Cross River State High Court, declared Akpanke wanted on Monday in connection with the alleged “murder of Inspector Emmanuel Martins on the 25th day of May, 2022 at Obudu LGA while on official duty.

”In view of the development, the Command wishes to encourage members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the aforementioned person to report such at the nearest police station.

Akpanke’s counsel, Mba Ukweni, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said it was wrong for the police to declare his client wanted, adding that the press release issued against his client “is politically motivated and meant to distract my client as he prepares for next month’s elections.

“Peter Akpanke is not running away from any trial, but we will bring to the fore the fact that Peter did nothing, the person who committed this offence was arrested and handed over to the police. Luckily for us, the extra-judicial statements have been taken by the police. Regrettably, the person who brought those who killed the Inspector, is not standing trial.

“What they are just trying to do is distract my client from concentrating on his elections. The person who brought the boy who shot and killed the officer has gone to join the governor’s camp and his name has been removed from the charge sheet…isn’t this unacceptable? We won’t let this unnecessary prosecution happen”, Ukweni said.