Mr. Anthony Okeke, the son of an ex-police officer, has been remanded in prison custody by an Enugu Chief Magistrate Court for driving into the convoy of Governor Sullivan Chime.
Okeke, a sound engineer, was charged before the Court for attempting to kidnap the Governor of Enugu State, but the court declined jurisdiction on the matter and remanded him in prison custody.
He was arrested by the security details of the Enugu State governor for unknowingly breaking into his convoy with his vehicle at about 11.30pm on February 22, 2015.
However, a human rights organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has demanded for justice in respect of the continued unlawful detention of Okeke.
This demand was contained in a statement released by President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo.
The rights activist noted that what could ordinarily at most have attracted warning was made a capital offence as Okeke was arrested, beaten to stupor and detained with his vehicle for six days at the Anti Kidnapping Base, Enugu before he was charged for attempt to kidnap the Governor of Enugu State.
“We condemn the arrest, torture and continued detention of Citizen Anthony Okeke on the frame up charge of attempt to kidnap the governor.
“He has not committed any offence known to the law by overtaking the governors’ convoy at night. This is oppression of the governed by those governing them. It is unacceptable in any decent and normal society. This is Rule of the Jungle typified. We demand for his immediate release and also demand for the release of his personal effects and vehicle lying at the premises of the Nigeria Police, Anti Kidnapping Base, Enugu” Omotayo said.
He recalled that the parents of the victim Mr. & Mrs. Linus Okeke, made the complaints and appeal to CRRAN for assistance, to save their son.
Omotayo narrated that Okeke who is a pensioner having retired as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and the State Police Command Bandmaster, who played the National Anthem at the swearing in of the Enugu State governor, and his wife a teacher at a private primary school, stated in tears how their son was falsely charged for a capital offence by overzealous security details attached to the Enugu State governor.
“The Okekes’ said their son, Anthony, works as a Sound Engineer with the Winners Chapel Church Headquarters, Presidential Road, Enugu. They further stated that they were not aware that their son who was living separately had been in detention until February 26, 2015, when somebody called from the Winners Chapel to ask why Anthony Okeke had not reported to work since February 23, 2015.
“The Okekes’ the following day started going from one police station to another until they were reliably informed that Anthony was detained at the Anti Kidnapping Base.
“Mr. Okeke rushed to the Anti Kidnapping Base, Enugu to inquire of his son but the Investigating Police Officer, Sergeant Solomon Jacob (Force Number: 376196) informed him that Anthony was brought to them by policemen led by ASP Nnaedozie, attached to the Enugu State Government House on the allegation that they attempted stopping his car but he overtook the governors convoy and he was arrested.”
“The big question now is who gave order that Anthony Okeke be charged for attempt to kidnap the governor of Enugu state just because he overtook his convoy at night?
Our investigation revealed that the governor was just driving around that Sunday night around 11:40pm, in an unmarked vehicle followed by about four, unmarked vehicles, without the normal siren or fanfare that normally herald his movement.
“It was reported that Anthony who had just dropped a friend in front of Fire Service Station, by Otigba Junction, Enugu, entered the road in front of one of the security vehicles following the governor and immediately volleys of gunshots were fired that busted his vehicle tires.
“He was arrested, tortured and severely brutalized by the governors’ security details and taken to the Anti Kidnapping Base where he was further dehumanized and detained for six days before he was charged before an Enugu Chief Magistrates’ Court on February 27, 2015.
“The court declined jurisdiction and remanded him in Enugu prison” Omotayo stated.
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