By; Onwukwe Ezeru, Abia.
A retired Permanent Secretary in Abia State Civil Service, and a catholic Knight, Chief Jonathan Agbia Kalu has allegedly committed suicide with a suicide note in his country home Elu -Ohafia LGA.
The retired Permanent Secretary who started his career in the then old Imo State, later rose to various capacities among which include Director of Protocol during the government of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Local Government Area Administrator, Knight of the Catholic Church and the National President, Ohafia Development Union.
Shortly after his retirement as Perm Sec. during the regime of the immediate past governor Chief Theodore Orji because of his cordial relationship with the governor, he was appointed Board Chairman, Abia State Infrastructural Development Levy.
Chief Agbia a well known career civil servant was reported to have travelled to his country home in Ohafia on Saturday 21 of May, 2016.
Sources said on reaching his home, he told his security guard that he does not want to be disturbed by friends and family members, he went inside and locked all the doors and it was alleged he drank poison and died.
A source closed to the family while speaking to our correspondent, revealed that she believed the former Permanent Secretary killed himself out of frustration because of series of debt he is said to owe friends as result of failed business.
Another person who spoke and pleaded anonymity said he believed the man was under the influence of syndicate fraudsters who he had importation business dealings worth millions of Naira with, after borrowing a lot from friends and later discovered that he had been dealing with fraudsters, he could not bear the humiliation and shame and decided to kill himself.
A Knight of the Catholic Church in Umuahia who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, confirmed the incident adding that the knights are sad and angry over the development, wondering why a Knight in the Catholic Church could decide to take his own life over the circumstances he did.
He disclosed that the incident have brought disgrace to the Church, asserting that the Knights on hearing the incident summoned emergency meeting to discuss the shameful incident adding that they have started their investigation to find out the immediate and remote cause.
He further disclosed that the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Lucius Ugorji is sad over the development adding that the late Agbia was a classmate of the Bishop in the seminary.
Speaking on the issue the Abia Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed the death of the old Permanent Secretary but added that it was not a suicide case.
He disclosed that the permanent secretary died of High Blood pressure in his home in Ohafia. He said investigation showed that the man was advised by Doctor to rest because his blood pressure was on the high side and he traveled during the weekend to rest in his country home with his drugs and food prepared by his wife.
The PPRO said when the deceased was not picking his mobile phone the third day, the wife travelled home to ascertain what has happened. He said the security man told her that since Oga came back he gave warning that he does not want to entertain visitors.
The door was forced open and they saw his lifeless body on his bed with the same clothes he wore on the day he left Umuahia
