The All Progressives Congress (APC) has spoken out against the arrest and continued detention of one its leaders in Edo State, Mr. Joe Okojie despite the issuance of an order for his release by a court.
According to the party, speculations on plans to transfer Okojie to Abuja, if true, prove the final decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government to substitute the rule of law with arbitrary rule, with grave prognosis for the nation’s democracy.
It therefore demanded his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with the court order, wondering why the Police, created to enforce the law and protect lives and property, will be so comfortable violating the same law.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC recalled that Okojie was arrested along with other party members by CSP Patrick Ejedawe, a serving police officer in Lagos State, who was one of the over 1,000 out-of-town policemen who were drafted to Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State for the 22nd October 2013 election in the council.
“He was alleged to have arranged for party members to steal ballot papers and thumb-print same secretly, when in fact he was called to help secure the release of APC members who were hounded into a truck by the police for not having identity cards,” APC wrote.
“While others were released, Okojie was transferred to Benin on ‘orders from above’, where he was detained. After all efforts to secure his release failed, an action predicated on the fundamental human rights was then filed Thursday in a Benin High Court and the court ordered his immediate release pending investigation and adjourned the case to 4th November, 2013.
“The order was served on the Edo State Commissioner of Police before the close of business Thursday, but up till the time of issuing this statement, he has not been released.”
The opposition part described the situation as impunity at its worst and a slap on the face of justice, expressing shock that a citizen’s right could be so violated simply on the basis of ‘orders from above’, when Nigeria is running a democracy that is based on constitutional order and the rule of law.
“What does ‘order from above’ mean? Does it mean the Inspector-General of Police of PDP leaders?” it queried.
“We ask because the only reason 1,000 policemen were deployed for an election in just one local government council (without any request from the state government or the State Electoral body) is that Chairman of PDP’s BOT, Chief Tony Anenih, hails from that LGA.
“Is he the one behind the ‘order from above’ mantra? Is it true that Okojie is being pressured to denounce APC before he can be released? Has the Nigeria Police now become the PDP and Anenih Police? Is this the contribution that the Nigeria Police want to make to Nigeria’s democracy?”
