A High Court in Owerri, Imo State, has issued a bench warrant against Chief Albert Uche Ahanonu, also known as Arufuoaku, for failing to appear and testify in a case brought against him. Despite being duly served with a summons, Ahanonu neglected to attend court without any justifiable reason after his bail application was earlier granted.
The bench warrant, dated June 10, 2025, and received by the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, on June 20, 2025, mandates law enforcement agencies to arrest Ahanonu and produce him before the court on July 1, 2025.
The warrant is linked to a three-count charge filed against Ahanonu in Suit No. OW/569/2024, Commissioner of Police vs. Albert Ahanonu. The charges include:
Count 1 : That you Albert Ahanonu ‘M’, on the 22nd day of September, 2023 at Egbelu Obube in Owerri Magisterial District did have in your possession or under your control one pump action prohibited gun which you ought not to possess and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 428(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
Count 2: That you Albert Ahanonu ‘M’ and another now at large on the 8th day of September, 2024 at Ezeakiri Naze, a public place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner which was likely to cause a breach of the peace by brandishing guns and threatening the life of one Hon. Jude Ugwuanya ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
Count 3: That you Albert Ahanonu ‘M’ on the 8th of September, 2024 at Ezeakiri Naze in Owerri Magisterial District did unlawfully assault one Hon. Jude Ugwuanya ‘M’ by striking him with a walking stick on the chest and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 351 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo State.
Ahanonu, a businessman and politician based in the USA, contested the last local government Council election for chairmanship of Owerri North Local Government area on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
According to reports, Arufuoaku has over the years allegedly been at loggerheads with the leadership of Egbelu Obube Community, creating parallel structures in both the youths and women organisations. As a result, the Traditional Ruler of the community, HRH Eze Jude Nwaogu, Chidiebube 1 and his cabinet, conscious of the destabilising effects of Arufuoaku’s alleged actions on the peaceful community forwarded a detailed petition to the Police against him on September 12, 2024, chronicling his disturbing activities and alleging various crimes, including threats to life, attempted murder, kidnapping, recruitment of youths into cults, unlawful possession of firearms, and indiscriminate use of guns including gun training, engagement in ritual activities, among other reprehensible acts. All these aggregated to the problems he’s contending with which are pending in various courts in the state.
A community source who spoke to this reporter said, “the court’s declaration of Ahanonu as a wanted person and the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest underscore the seriousness of the allegations against him and the urgent need for him to come out from his enclave and prove his innocence or guilt instead of evading justice”.
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