A Magistrate Court in Abakaliki has ordered the remand of Mr. Augustine Nwazunku, the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, along with three other suspects, facing charges of cultism, forgery, impersonation, and the unlawful suspension of Chief Ali Odefa, the South East National Vice Chairman of the PDP.
Magistrate Ojemba Isu-oko denied bail to the defendants, whose counsel, U. A. Obasi, had submitted a bail application.
The court directed that the four suspects be held in prison custody until November 18, 2024.
Nwazunku and his co-defendants—Obinna Nwachukwu, Njoku Nwagwu, and Ogbonnaya Idika—are facing a five-count charge that includes allegations of forging a letter purportedly from PDP executives of the Ogudu-Okwor ward in Oshiri, which falsely announced the suspension of Chief Odefa.
Additionally, the suspects are accused of being members of the prohibited secret cult known as the Vikings confraternity, in violation of Section 3 (1) (3) of the Ebonyi State Law that prohibits secret cult activities, along with carrying offensive weapons, which is punishable under Section 5 of the same law.
The charges allege that on October 2, 2024, in Ogudu-Okwor Onicha, the defendants conspired to commit several felonies, including cultism, forgery, impersonation, and engaging in conduct likely to breach the peace, thus violating Section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ebonyi State.
The allegations further claim that the group acted in a manner likely to incite disaffection among PDP executives and falsely represented themselves as ward executives with the intent to defraud.
Mr. Nwazunku previously served as the head of the HIV and AIDS Agency in Ebonyi State and contested the 2023 gubernatorial election against his younger brother, Chukwuma.