By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Private Developers Alliance (PDA) on Tuesday, cautioned the Managing Director of Eketeson Construction Company, Mr. Donatus Ekete, against usage of media to allegedly attack the reputation of his contemporary, Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe, following an incident that occurred in May 2024, where a driver to Mr. Nzekwe accidentally drove on a newly asphalted road constructed by Eketeson.
In a statement signed by the President of the organization, Dr. Stanley Ogbuka, and made available to journalists, the group described the attacks as frivolous and baseless, citing the misrepresentation of events that led to the controversial arrest of Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe, Managing Director of Toshel Construction Company Ltd.
According to the group, the driver, Mr. Okechukwu Offor, who previously worked for Mr. Ekete, was allegedly beaten by security personnel under Mr. Ekete’s orders following the incident, adding, that Mr. Offor’s injuries were a result of unwarranted aggression, not an orchestrated plot to discredit Eketeson Construction.
The statement further clarified that Mr. Offor, who had resigned from Eketeson after being owed six months’ salary, had no ill intent when the incident occurred and was simply performing his duties as a driver for Toshel.
It also condemned the arrest of Mr. Nzekwe in September 2024, calling it unlawful and politically motivated. They expressed concern that the warrant issued by the magistrate court lacked legitimacy and appeared to be part of a broader campaign to smear Mr. Nzekwe’s name and reputation in the construction industry.
The Private Developers Alliance (PDA) affirmed their support for Mr. Nzekwe and Toshel Construction Company Ltd; thus, called for a halt to the baseless attacks and urged all parties involved to seek legal resolution instead of resorting to media warfare.
It emphasized the importance of upholding ethical standards in the industry to ensure fairness and justice for all stakeholders, adding that Toshel Construction Company is renowned for doing so.
According to the statement titled, A Rebuttal to the Slanderous Campaign Against Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe and Toshel Construction Company Ltd, “We, Private Developers Alliance, wish to refute the unfounded allegations and malicious attacks orchestrated by Mr. Donatus Eketeson, CEO of Eketeson Construction Company Ltd, against Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe, Managing Director of Toshel Construction Company Ltd.
“These defamatory actions aim to tarnish the impeccable reputation of Mr. Nzekwe and his company, using baseless media campaigns, following the unfortunate events of May 28, 2024. On that day, Mr. Okechukwu Offor, a driver employed by Toshel Construction Limited Human Resource management team and formerly an employee of Eketeson Construction, was viciously alleged assaulted by armed security personnel on the orders of Mr. Eketeson. Mr. Offor’s only error was inadvertently driving on the newly asphalted New-Artisan Road, a project managed by Eketeson Construction.
“The unprovoked attack left him grievously injured, nearly costing him his life, and he was rushed to the State CID clinic for emergency treatment. To date, Mr. Offor is still recovering from the severe injuries inflicted during the attack. It is pertinent to clarify that Mr. Offor had resigned from Eketeson Construction due to being owed six months’ salary, a clear violation of labour law. His decision to join Toshel Construction was legitimate and devoid of any malice. Yet, in a desperate attempt to evade responsibility for the attack on Mr. Offor, Mr. Eketeson has sought to misrepresent the events of May 28, 2024, as part of a broader conspiracy aimed at discrediting his reputation. These allegations are not only false but an attempt to cover up Mr. Eketeson’s own wrongdoing.
“Adding insult to injury, on Friday, September 30, 2024, Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe was unjustly arrested under questionable circumstances and detained at the Enugu Correctional Center, treated like a common criminal. This arrest, purportedly based on a warrant issued by a magistrate court, is highly suspect and merits thorough investigation. The sequence of events clearly suggests that this arrest was engineered by Mr. Eketeson in an effort to further defame Mr. Nzekwe and weaken his standing in the public eye.
“Toshel Construction Company Ltd has always upheld the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and quality in its operations. No amount of spurious media campaigns or malicious tactics will succeed in discrediting the name of a company that has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence. Toshel Construction will continue to serve as a pillar of quality and reliability in the construction industry.
The group noted, ” We condemn, in the strongest terms, the use of violence to resolve personal or professional disputes. The Private Developers Alliance will continue to seek justice for both Mr. Nzekwe and Mr. Offor. Legal proceedings are underway to challenge the legality of Mr. Nzekwe’s detention, and we are committed to ensuring that those responsible for the attack on Mr. Offor are held accountable. No individual should be permitted to use influence to manipulate the legal system for personal gain or to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.
“We therefore declare unequivocally that the malicious attempts to destroy the integrity of Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe and Toshel Construction Company Ltd will fail. We stand with Mr. Nzekwe and will not waver in our pursuit of justice. The public deserves to know the truth, and we will see to it that justice is done”.
