by crossriverwatch admin
Cross River Lawyer and human rights activist, Bar. Obono Obla has vowed to end impunity and abuse of office in Yakurr LGA.
Obono who has consistently taken on most cases related to violation of citizens rights in Cross River State was speaking recently on the arrest and detention of one citizen Eno Ekapong Ofem. He said:
“I got a message from Honourable Eteng Jones Williams, Member of the Cross River State House of Assembly that Eno Ekapong Ofem will be released on the 29th October, 2012. I am not excited at all. Why should a man be arrested and detained for several days and then he is released and then some people will think that the matter will end there. That was the intention to keep him behind the bars for five days. That is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution”.
“It is oppression. Is that how power is to be use to deal with those who do not agree with you? We are filing a case against Bassey Ewa, Omini Bam Ekim and all those who stood the law on the head to get back at Eno. It is sheer wickedness to arrest a man and keep him behind the bars for several days because you want to send a signal to your village people that you are well connected and powerful. Is that how we are going to make progress in Yakurr”?
If Bassey Ewa thinks that he is powerful he should bring development to Ekori in particular and Yakurr in general not to be acting as a local champion and oppressor. I was so annoyed when I visited Eno at Garki Village Police Station where he was taken to by the two Police (goons) officers who brought him from Calabar”.
“I saw the detention order signed by these corrupt police officers and what they stated was for the reason for arresting Eno and bringing him to Abuja was assault and threat to life. It is laughable that somebody who has been a two time member of the House of Assembly, Speaker of the House of Assembly and two times member of the House of Representatives will be behaving like this. I told Eno’s Sister, Koton that I will never go to the Police Station to beg anybody to release Eno. Because the arrest and detention is patently wrong and unsupportable by the Nigerian Constitution. Tomorrow is a battle day for me at the Office of the Inspector General in Abuja. Oppression must stop in Ekori and Yakurr. The culture of impunity must end in Nigeria. I have vowed to take on all those who use their privileged positions to oppress the under privileged, down trodden and poor”.
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