Kelvin Ibinabo, an artist in Ebonyi State, has been hospitalized after he was allegedly brutalized by Machiavelli Uzo, an aide to the state Governor, David Umahi. Uzo is the Coordinator of Ohaozara Development Centre in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to
Ibinabo, Uzo, along with his loyalists, attacked him on Saturday and locked him
up in a dark room. Ibinabo said he was booked by the LGA Chairman, Mr. Consider
Ajah, to perform at the burial of his mother-in-law in the council.
“It was at
that point that the Ohaozara Development Centre Coordinator, Machiavelli Uzo,
emerged from nowhere and ordered me to play the campaign song of the APC
governorship candidate in Ebonyi State,” the victim added.
Ibinabo said
he declined the request because he was done with his performance and the event
he was invited to was not a political event. He alleged that the coordinator
threatened to attack him if he did not comply.
“At that
point, I had no choice and for the sake of peace, I picked up the microphone
and started playing the song for him. After about 20 minutes, I dropped the
microphone; but Mr. Uzo again ordered me to pick up the microphone and play
until he was satisfied. But I refused to sing and instead ordered my crew to
pack up so we could leave the scene. At this point, the coordinator and his
thugs descended on me, beating me with different weapons.
“After
beating me to almost a comatose state, they whisked me into a room in the
compound and locked me up. The police in Ohaozara later arrived, rescued me from
the room and took me to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital,
Abakaliki, for treatment,” he added.
Uzo,
however, denied attacking the musician, whom he described as a friend. He said
he pleaded with the artiste to sing a song for him, which he agreed to.
“After that,
we went inside the house and were making merry but after some time, he
(Ibinabo) said he wanted to go outside and check something. The next thing I
heard was a commotion with some people beating him and chasing him into the
house. I was also surprised by the action of his attackers like others inside,”
he added.
The Ebonyi
State police spokesperson, SP Chris Anyanwu, said he was not aware of the
incident. He said, “I am yet to hear and receive details of this. Where did it
happen? Who ordered him to sing the APC song? I will get across to the DPO of
the area for details and give you detailed information. Please, calm down.”
The victim
said the Ohaozara council chairman was not around when the incident happened.
The case is yet to be investigated by the police.
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