Kelvin Ibinabo, an Ebonyi State singer, was allegedly brutalised by David Umahi, a governor’s aide, and is now in the hospital.
Ibinabo told Punch that on January 22, he was attacked by Machiavelli Uzo’s supporters and imprisoned in a dark room at the Ohaozara Development Center in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He said that the assault took place after he was contracted by the LGA Chairman, Mr. Consider Ajah, to perform at the councilor’s mother-in-law’s funeral.
Ibinabo claimed that after the performance, he instructed his band to leave since it was becoming late.
He said;
“It was at that point that the Ohaozara Development Centre Coordinator, Machiaveli Uzo, emerged from nowhere and ordered me to play the campaign song of the APC governorship candidate in Ebonyi State.”
Ibinabo claimed that the coordinator threatened to assault him if he did not comply with the order because he had finished performing and the event to which he had been invited was not a political function.
He told the publication;
“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.”
Ibinabo claimed that the chairman of the Ohaozara council was absent at the time of the occurrence.
However, Uzo disputed the assault and added that the musician consented to sing a song for him when he requested it.
He said;
“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.”
The Ebonyi State police spokesperson, SP Chris Anyanwu, however, said he was not aware of the incident.
