How I Was Forced To Dispose My Land To Settle Alleged N5 million Debt While In Police Cell

By Ikeddy Mamah 
A Nigerian citizen has accused the police in Enugu State of allegedly forcing him to dispose his landed property to settle a bogus debt of N5 million while being detained in their cell.
Citizen Gideon Nwodo, from Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike, Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the state told reporters at a news conference on Monday that a fake doctor, Emmanuel Chimaobi Ugwumba, from Ezimo- Agu, in the neighbouring Udenu Local Government made the false allegations that he owed him the bogus debt.
He said that Ugwumba, who was arrested for child trafficking and operating a "baby factory" made the false allegations in a bid to prevent me from exposing his suspected illegal activities in the community.
The suspected fake doctor was arrested on September 28, 2024 and charged to court on October 9, 2024, and remanded in prison custody but had since been freed on bail.
According to Mr Nwodo, Ugwumba had earlier told some members of staff that he was the mastermind of his troubles with law enforcement agents.
His words, "While I was being detained at the Police Force C.I.D Annexe in Enugu, I was forced to sell my land at a very ridiculous price of N5 million. I spent seven days in detention. I was paid N4, 750,000 (less commission to land agents).
"I then paid the N5. 1million in two  installments of N3.1 million on September 1, 2025 and another N2 million on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at about 3.11pm. I paid the money through accounts numbers: First Bank of Nigeria belonging to his lawyer before paying another N1 million to the police to be released on bail.
"I was in detention when I learnt that my four- year old daughter had fallen sick because she was missing me and had not seen me for several days.I was under serious pressure. I was afraid that my daughter would die in the process.
"I wanted to be freed so that my daughter would not die, due to my sudden absence."
However, according to Enugu State's police command bulletins, "Dr" Ugwumba's arrest followed interception of a public notice on an abandoned child he made and endorsed in the name of the state Ministry of Gender and Social Development.
According to the police, Ugwumba reportedly signed the notice as the director of OTZ, published in the Daily Sun of September 27, 2024.
"Upon his arrest, he was found to be involved in child trafficking, with one pregnant woman; the four- year published child being rescued.
"Investigations revealed that the suspect who claimed to be a graduate of medicine and surgery, from the University of Jos, Plateau State, owns and manages Chima Hospital and Maternity, located at Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area.
"It was further discovered that within 2017 and 2024, he conspired with an acclaimed staff of the ministry and others at large to conduct anti- natal care and delivery of seven - yet to be traced chicken from different mothers in the hospital.
"He was arraigned in court on October 9, 2024 and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre (prison) pending further hearing," in the case, the state police Spokesman, Dan Ndukwe stated.
A lawyer, Onuora Odo also, told reporters that the child of one Chinelo from Igogoro, Enugu Ezike was among those to be traced. 
Odo said that Chinelo, a spinster got pregnant and sought refuge at the Chima Hospital and Maternity adding that delivery, "Dr" gave N150,000 and a handset to the lady, took away the child and sold to buyers adding that efforts to trace the buyers have not been successful.