Alleged Slapping Of 68-Year-Old Woman: Activist Calls For Arrest Of Okowa’s Aide, Mrakpor

A good governance advocate, Zik Gbemre, has called on the Delta State Police Command to arrest and prosecute the Director-General (DG), Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Evangelist (Mrs.) Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor, for allegedly slapping and beating-up a 68-year-old grandmother, which has left her in a coma and at the moment hospitalized.

The activist who described the action of Mrakpor as barbaric, urged Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and security agencies to promptly intervene and have the said of the State Government and her cohorts brought to book for “their gross abuse of political office and taking the laws into their hands.”

This is a trending media report published by TheStory online media platform alleging that Mrs. Mrakpor, who was a former House of Representatives member and former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, slapped and beat-up the said 68-year-old woman, Mrs. Adaeke Odiaka, who is said to be old enough to be her mother.

Mama Odiaka resides in Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South LGA of Delta State.

Reacting to this development in a press statement signed by Zik Gbemre sent to Advocate, said that it’s “appalling that Mrs. Mrakpor, who, as the wife of the Attorney-General of Delta State and Commissioner for Justice, is supposed to be a law abiding citizen, but is the one now taking the law into her hands to become such a public nuisance and a thorn in the flesh of the people.”

The statement read in part: “THE URGENT NEED TO HAVE RT. HON. MRS. JOAN ONYEMAECHI MRAKPOR, AND HER AIDES/ASSOCIATES, APPROPRIATELY DEALT WITH THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE LAW OVER THEIR ALLEGED ABUSE OF POLITICAL POWER THAT HAS LANDED A GRANDMOTHER IN COMA.

“With recent the reported development that the Director-General (DG), Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Rt. Hon. Evangelist Mrs. Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor, who purportedly slapped and beat-up a 68-year-old grandmother, which has left her in a coma in an hospital, I strongly urge the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, relevant Delta State Government Authorities and Security Operatives concerned, to promptly intervene and have the stated Aide of the State Government and her cohorts brought to book and dealt with the full weight of law for their gross abuse of political office/position and taking the laws into their hands.

“It was gathered that the said Mrs Mrakpor, who was a former House of Representatives member and former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, slapped and beat-up the said 68-year-old woman, Mrs. Adaeke Odiaka, who is said to be old enough to be her mother, in Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South LGA of Delta State. And the reason for this barbaric and disrespectful act/behavior, was that the old woman’s grandson, Nnamdi Odiaka, who is a journalist, posted something online that seemed unfavorable to the political ambition of Mrs. Mrakpor’s younger brother, Jude Ugbah Chukwunwike.

“And because of that, Mrs. Mrakpor, who happens to be the wife of Barr. Peter Mrakpor, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Delta State, stormed the residence of Odiaka in search of him. Angered by the absence of Odiaka, Mrs. Mrakpor, then gave his grandmother several slaps before she lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention. It was also by a struck of luck, that the 75-year old husband of Mrs. Adaeke Odiaka, escaped being beaten-up as well by Mrs. Mrakpor and her aides.

“The question is, does being in Government and holding any political position, give one the right to go about beating up and harassing innocent people, including an old woman who is old enough to be her mother? Why should the said Okowa’s aide, in her capacity as DG, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, and in company of her aides, storm the residence of a citizen to beat-up whomever they see there? Thereby abusing the power and authority of her Office, and using the instrument of Government’s power to intimidate and harass a poor woman and her family over a post online.

“It is also worthy to note that the said Mrs. Mrakpor, is purportedly known for such character and behavior of using her position and influence in Government to harass, intimidate, and embarrass poor people of Delta State that crosses her path in any way. This reported incident which happened on Sunday December 27,2020, have even led to a protest by youths of Ubulu-Uku, who had taken to the streets with placards bearing different inscriptions in reaction to the said slap and beat-up of the stated old woman.

“I also find it appalling that Mrs. Mrakpor, who, as the wife of the Attorney-General of Delta State and Commissioner for Justice, is supposed to be a law abiding citizen, but is the one now taking the law into her hands to become such a public nuisance and a thorn in the flesh of the people. Even as a former lawmaker in Delta State House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives, she ought to know better on how to address such issues. If it is a case of libel and defamation of character, as a result of post online by a journalist, there are formal and legal ways of pursuing such through the law courts. Rather than taking laws into her hands, with the intent to cause great harm on the person concerned and her family. I mean, why harassing people? Why beat-up innocent and helpless Nigerians just because you can, by virtue of the Position you occupy in Government? This incident is wrong on all sides. And I urge the Delta State Governor, the Relevant Authorities of the Delta State Government and Security Operatives to address this issue with the full weight of the law because nobody should be seen to be above the law.

“THE POLICE MUST ARREST AND APPROPRIATELY PROSECUTE IN THE COURT OF LAW, ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS ALLEGED BARBARIC AND UNCIVILIZED ACT.

Zik Gbemre,
December 27,2020.”