Following the re-arrest and alleged persecution of Emperor Ogbonna, a legal practitioner, by the Department of State Security (DSS ) and Abia State Government , the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has condemned the action while calling for his release.
Full text of the press statement signed by NBA National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Edun
reads:
Mr. Emperor Ogbona is a lawyer practising in the commercial city of Aba in Abia State. Information provided by the Executives of the branch Interim Committee confirm the following:That Emperor Ogbonna Esq. was alleged to have made an online publication stating that the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu allegedly visited a shrine outside the country where he was said to have sworn to an oath of allegiance abd secrecy to the former Governor of the State.
That the online publication was alleged to have been made on the Facebook page of Emperor Ogbonna. Mr. Ogbonna denied being the originator of the post but that he only re-shared it.
Further information revealed that the State Governor was alleged to have made a personal statement to the Police on the matter and therefore, he is a Prosecution Witness. Mr. Ogbonna was subsequently arrested by the officers of the Nigerian Police Force and charged before the Federal High Court, Umuahia with the offence of terrorism.
In spite of all the deliberate obstacles put the way by the State government and the Prosecution to prevent the hearing and grant of the bail application, the Federal High Court eventually granted bail to Emperor Ogbonna Esq only on the condition that he be released to a lawyer of not less than 20 years at the bar.
This, according to information, infuriated officials of the Abia State government who crowded the court premises, and said to have been led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, one Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, who incidentally is also a lawyer.
The Abia State government officials accompanied with officials of the State Security Service “(DSS) made forceful attempt to re-arrest Emperor Ogbonna within the premises of the Federal High Court but this was resisted by the prison officials and lawyers present because the bail term was yet to be perfected.
We were informed that the premises of the Federal High Court was made almost riotous by the insistence of the Abia State government officials and the DSS (apparently acting in concert) to forcefully take Emperor Ogbonna from the custody of the prison officials; the bar leaders present had to advise the prison officials to take Emperor Ogbonna back to the prison and to remain there until they perfect the bail term. Still yet, the Abia State government officials and the DSS personnel followed the prison officials to the Federal Prison, Umuahia. The leaders of Aba branch ensured that Emperor Ogbonna was safely in the prison before they all left.
The NBA was further informed by the Interim Executives of Aba branch that, it therefore, came to them as a rude shock, when they got information that the Prison authorities released Emperor Ogbonna Esq. to the DSS officials and officials of Abia State government allegedly on ‘order from above’.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest and re-arrest of Emperor Ogbonna by the DSS at the instance of the Abia State government are very disturbing. Without commenting on the merit of the charge, being subjudice, it is a fact that the matter has already been submitted to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, and the Court graciously granted Emperor Ogbonna bail. There was therefore no basis for the further involvement of the DSS apparently at the instigation by the officials of the Abia State government to continue denying Emperor Ogbonna his constitutional right to personal liberty. The forceful arrest and continued detention of Emperor Ogbonna has made it impossible for him to perfect his bail term, and therefore, the actions of the Abia State government and the DSS amount to flagrant disobedience to a valid order of a Federal High Court and violation of the constitutional rights of Emperor Ogbonna Esq.
The Nigerian Bar Association, therefore, demands that the State Security Service (DSS) and the Abia State Government immediately release Emperor Ogbonna Esq. to face his charge before the Federal High Court, for which plea has already been taken and the matter adjourned for hearing.
The NBA trusts that the Abia State Government and DSS would not give the impression that they are above the law of the land and do not have confidence in the credibility of their complaint before the Federal High Court. The NBA refuses to accept popular opinion that the harassment of Emperor Ogbonna Esq could be a subtle attempt to intimidate him to kowtow to any untoward compromise; if it is true, then it amounts to interference with the judicial processes by State officials who should know better, and this would be highly frowned at.
While the Nigerian Bar Association commends the leadership and members of Aba branch of the NBA for ensuring that Emperor Ogbonna Esq is allowed the privileges and facilities provided by the Consititution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the NBA shall continue working with the relevant authorities to ensure the early release of Emperor Ogbonna Esq and encourage actions towards seeking redress for the violation of his constitutional rights.”
Kunle Edun
National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association.
