Former Super Falcons midfielder Maureen Mmadu insists on getting justice after she was defamed, unlawfully arrested and brutalised with some players of her academy by some men of the Anambra Police in October, just as the police have begun investigations into the matter, The PUNCH reports.
The 49-year-old met with officials of the Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday in the wake of the public outcry about her unlawful arrest and defamation of character by one Uchenna Onyekwunife, a parent of one of the players in her camp at Maureen Mmadu Kiddies Academy, who accused her of armed gangsterism, child trafficking and threat to life.
After the meeting, the Anambra Police, in a statement by its PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga promised to investigate the alleged human rights violation by its operatives.
“The State Police Command, very concerned about the incident especially as it concerns human rights violations as alleged, invited the ex-international player and members of her team to get the facts straight.
“It is pertinent to note that after the necessary interview with the victims, it was discovered that the incident happened a few months ago and that there have been ongoing efforts to resolve the case between the parties concerned. The alleged Police unprofessional conduct by the Ex-Falcon footballer shall however be looked into,” the statement read.
Mmadu also confirmed that she aided the police investigation with the names of some of the officers involved and hopes to be cleared of the allegations against her personality as well as reparations for the damages on her and her players by the police during the unlawful arrest.
“They have not arrested those responsible, they only asked me their names and I told them the name of the man that led the operation and the IPO that was in charge. They now apologised that they have communicated with their boss and told us to come back on Tuesday,” Mmadu told The PUNCH.
“What I want is for my name to be cleared. When justice is done, I will forget about it. They defamed my personality. Also, for everything they destroyed, all the phones of my players they smashed and the money we spent on the injuries they inflicted on us to be fully repaid.”
The ex-Falcons stars had narrated the events which led to her ordeal in the hands of the operatives.
Mmadu who spoke to Sports journalists in Awka, Anambra State capital said she was arrested in handcuffs following an uninvestigated petition against her by the parent, Onyekwunife.
“One man, Uchenna handed his daughter over to me in Awka in June this year for basic training in football in my camp during the long holiday.
“I invited the man to come to the camp where the girl was to see how she was fairing several times but he declined and never visited. He rather sent money for the purchase of her needs including underwear and sanitary pads.
“When it was time for school resumption, I invited Uchenna to come and take her child, but he rather asked me to look for a school and enrol the child but I turned it down, telling him it was not my duty.
“That was how this man abandoned his daughter with me for four months without showing up until he sent a cab driver to come and pick and take her home but the girl said she was not going to go with the cab because she did not know him, that was late September.”
According to the ex-footballer, she didn’t hear from the man until October 9 when security personnel stormed their Ozubulu camp of the academy, beating up everybody in sight including the players and taking her away in handcuffs.
“They handcuffed me like a common thief, seized my phone and those of my players, they beat them and some of them ended up in hospital. They detained me for one night without giving me any right to say anything.
“All I am asking for is justice, my image has been severely damaged, I feel very embarrassed, and the police should return all the phones in their possession.
“The man who abandoned his child and petitioned against me should be investigated and made to defend his frivolous claims.”
