By CrossRiverWatch admin
Solicitors to one of the witnesses in the ongoing trial of the Calabar Killer Cops, Mr. Bassey Eyo Mkpang of Effanga Offiong Street, Calabar have petitioned the Cross River State Commissioner of Police appealing for urgent intervention in the arrest and continued detention of his client beyond the constitutionally allowed period.
Mr. Bassey Eyo was allegedly rounded up by the police along with two others on Tuesday 8th March, 2016 at about 10.30AM at Thomas Henshaw Street, Calabar for allegedly having in his pocket a suspected wrap of Indian hemp.
He was detained for about two days at the Atakpa Police Division, Calabar before being transferred to the State Police Headquarters, Calabar where he is still under detention till this moment.
His solicitor, Barrister James Ibor of Basic Rights Counsel in the petition to the Police Commissioner, Henry Fadairo, argues that “Sir, you will agree that the alleged offence is far from being a capital offence and therefore bailable.
“However, the police authorities in Calabar are now making frantic efforts to frame up our client by influencing the investigating police officers to attach our client with several incriminating objects including gun, cocaine, etc. all in a bid to get a pound of flesh from him for courageously giving evidence in court against some dismissed police officers now standing trial in a case of extra-judicial killing in Suit NO. HC/2C/2016.
“May it please you to know that we had promptly intervened at the Atakpa Police Division, offered to take our client on bail and presented a worthy surety of means.
“The said surety is Mr. Ene Edem Nya who is a first cousin to our client; and a successful crayfish seller and owner of landed properties, including an 8 self-contain apartment at No. 22 Edet Nsa Street, Calabar and a two (2) room apartment at No. 8 Macdonald Street, Calabar.
“However the police have refused to either admit our client on bail or charge him to court as required by law. Rather, the police at Atakpa Police Division acting on purported orders from above, transferred our client to the State Police Headquarters after getting wind that our client is giving evidence in court against their dismissed colleagues. This is even as the two other suspects arrested along with our client have since been released on police bail.
“We are by this letter humbly urging you to urgently intervene in this matter and call the police authorities in Calabar to order.” The petition concluded.
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