Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged the police in Ebonyi State to release Mr Chika Nwoba, State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was arrested in January.
Saraki, in a statement by his media office at the weekend, expressed disappointment that a citizen was arrested on a flimsy excuse of ‘circulating false information’ and thereafter detained for more than a month without fair hearing.
While describing the arrest carried out by the state security group called Ebubeagwu before the intervention of the police as “an assault on the country’s democracy”, the former Senate President stated that a situation where a citizen was suddenly seized and beaten to a stupor before being detained in the police station for several weeks does not speak well for the nation’s democracy.
“The remand in police cell of Mr Nwoba, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State, is of great concern for me as a person who loves Nigeria and above all as someone who loves justice. It is really disappointing that injustice has transcended every facet of our country.
“The gentleman deserves the right to fair hearing under the law. He has been controversially remanded for more than a month after being arrested under a situation which started like he was being kidnapped.
“Since then, he has been prevented from meeting any member of his family. Any way, my sympathy goes out to his wife and kids who must be going through a tough time at the moment.
“Mr Nwoba is a dutiful member of our great party, PDP, and he is paying the price of speaking truth to power. Without any doubt, this is another concerted effort to silence the opposition and undermine democracy.
“This act of injustice being promoted and foisted by those in power in Ebonyi State, is nothing but an assault on our democracy and our collective freedom as citizens of this country because an injury to one is an injury to all. This is a time for every well meaning Nigerian and most especially the leaders of our party, the PDP, to stand up and Stand with one of our own.
“We all need to save our nation from the misfortune wreaked by injustice and miscarriage of Justice. It is important to note that the case is presently in a Magistrate court and we sincerely hope justice will be dispensed promptly and without any delay”, Saraki stated.
Signed
Olu Onemola
Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office
Abuja
