There is confusion over whether or not abductors of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), his driver and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Athanasious Ugbomhe aka “Athani” have contacted their families to demand ransom.
While there have been reports that Ozekhome’s abductors have demanded N150m from his family with a three-day ultimatum, the lawyer’s elder brother, Pius, denied knowledge of any such ransom.
However, a close friend of Ugbomhe confirmed to journalists the kidnappers’ demanded for N100 million for his release but begged for his unconditional release, saying “This man has health condition that requires constant attention. He is a good person and not a moneybag. They should please release him unconditionally.”
Meanwhile reacting to the lawyer’s abduction, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) on Tuesday decried the high rate of insecurity in the country.Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran lamented stated that the high rate of insecurity in the country calls for sober reflection from well-meaning Nigerians.
“The state of insecurity in the country should be a cause for concern to well-meaning Nigerians. This is an evidence of security lapses in the country. It is very disheartening that law-abiding citizens could be abducted despite the huge sum of money spent on security in the country. Insecurity rate in this country is something else,” he said.
“Boko Haram killing thousands in the North; kidnapping in the South, diseases outbreak in many states and most of our leaders remain unperturbed. It is very disheartening that Nigeria has not fared better since we resumed democracy in 1999. The plight of an average Nigerian in this present democratic dispensation is worse than what was experienced in some past political regimes.”
He described the high level of insecurity as a shame on the government and its security apparata.
“The various security challenges bedevilling this country make a mess of whatever effort the present government is making to safeguard the lives of the Nigerian citizenry. The government has failed the Nigerian masses because the huge sum allocated to security vote is not yielding the desired result,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, everyone should take care of their own security because government, despite all the claims, have proven that they are incapable of securing lives and property. It is high time the government of the day frontally tackled the unemployment in the country.
“Nigeria is sitting on a keg of a gun powder except the teeming unemployed youths are positively engaged. Or what do you expect when many of the youths are unemployed? The saying goes that ‘an idle hand is the devil’s workshop’. The government should, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on unemployment.”
