By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Attorney General of Cross River State and Commissioner for Justice, Ededem Ani Esq., has denied involvement in the alleged arrest and detention of one Chief Maurice Omin Iso, a community leader in Calabar Municipality.
Ededem Ani described the accusation from an online report linking him to the said arrest and detention of the chief as false, baseless, and malicious report to denigrate his good name and reputation painstakingly built over the years.
While urging the public not to pay heed to the report, he said contrary to what was reported, the said Chief was never arrested on his directive.
“While the article claimed that Chief Maurice Omin Iso was allegedly arrested and detained on the directives of the Attorney General, on December 21, 2024, there exist verifiable records that Chief Maurice Omin Iso, Ntufam Donatus Etim, and others, visited the Zone 6 Police Headquarters Calabar, on December 23, 2024, for an interview with regard to a petition bordering on attempted murder and kidnapping,” he told newsmen in Calabar.
He continued: “One is then left to wonder how someone who was said to have been arrested two days earlier, would accept an invitation from the Police and physically attend the same two days later.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Omin Iso left the Zone 6 Command after the said interview, of his own free will,” he added.
He also dismissed as fabrication, claims that the said Chief Iso was arrested because he got judgments against the state.
According to him “There is no record of any judgments in favor of Chief Maurice Omin Iso against the Cross River State Government involving land or chieftaincy issues. Even if they were, it would be the place of government to appeal the same, if dissatisfied with such a judgment.
“Arresting or detaining a judgment creditor does not in any way affect the validity of a judgment, and would not only be illegal but, unlawful and futile.”
According to Chief Victor Ita, the Attorney General of Cross River State and the Commissioner for Justice is not just a law-abiding citizen and a stickler for the rule of law but also strives to apply it evenly, without fear or favor, no matter who is involved.
He however encourages the said medium to get their facts right before publication: “The author as well as his employer the Daily Post Media Limited are hereby advised to stick to the ethos of true journalism by verifying claims, before going to press with baseless fabrications, irrespective of the level of financial inducement.”