By Akinwale Kasali
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the arrest of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the Spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP. Also, the Conference of Nigeria’s Political Parties, CNPP, in a statement signed by Willy Ezeugwu, asked for his immediate release. But some Nigeria hold a different opinion. They say that freedom of speech should not be used as an excuse to tell, with impunity, brazen, destructive lies against people.
Ugochinyere was arrested by the Police on the orders of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Ikenga alleged that the Leadership of the House had taken a bribe, to the tune of USD10m from Bill Gates, in order to pass the Infectious Disease Bill.
An outraged House denied the allegation, and invited him to appear before a Committee to defend and prove his allegation. He did not appear. The House issued a Bench Warrant against him. He went to court, and got a restraining order against his arrest.
But a couple of days ago, the Police gave effect to the arrest order.
But the PDP decries the arrest of the CUPP Spokesman, in defiance of a subsisting court order, saying it is “a direct affront to the judiciary, an assault on our democratic practice and a violation of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere’s rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, the Party noted that in demanding Ugochinyere’s release, it is deeply worried by reports that the CUPP spokesperson is being detained under very dehumanizing condition where he is also allegedly being tortured.
“Without prejudice to the issues between the leadership of the House of Representatives and the CUPP, for which the two parties were before a court, resorting to using the police to arrest and detain the CUPP spokesperson, in defiance of the orders of the court, is completely unacceptable, unlawful and cannot be justified under any guise whatsoever.
“Our party charges the Presiding Officers of the APC-led House of Representatives to note that Nigeria is a democratic state, governed by law which creates no space for the whims and caprices of dictatorial, oppressive and vindictive individuals, who has no regard for rules.
“The APC leaders in the House of Representatives should therefore respect the sanctity of the judiciary and the provisions of the law by following due process in dealing with issues, particularly those guaranteed by the constitution.”
And in its statement, the CNPP urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu to immediately order to release of Nigeria’s opposition spokesman, Barrister Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, insisting that his arrest and continued detention were in clear violation of a subsisting court order.
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country also warned that “it will not be in the interest of democracy and the rule of law for institutions of government to return to inglorious path of flagrant disobedience of court order, saying that the CNPP findings clearly show that the Inspector General of the Police was misled by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to effect the arrest in the first place.”
It noted that the arrest and detention amount to another attempt by Nigerian lawmakers to decimate the judiciary.
“On Thursday evening the news broke on the gestapo style arrest of the CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere to the shock of the Conference on Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).
“The CNPP was particularly shocked because the Nigeria Police under the leadership of the current Inspector General of Police has given the Police a new image, which the current arrest and detention of Ikenga Ugochinyere as the opposition spokesman will avoidably reverse.
“It was even more disgraceful to learn that the arrest was in connection with an instigation by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who is supposed to be a defender of the rule of law, knowing that the 3rd June 2020 order of the Federal Capital Territory High Court restraining the Police and the SSS from arresting or detaining Ugochinyere is yet to be vacated.
“For the very fact that the police acted in glaring disobedience to lawful orders of Court, we urge the Inspector General of Police to immediately order his release unconditionally in respect for the rule of law, and constitutional democracy.
“We make this demand, knowing that the injunction order of the Court and all processes in the matter have been served on the Police, including the hearing notice notifying that the matter has been adjourned for definite hearing on 30th June 2020.
But a number of Nigerians differ. An academic Nath Onyekwe said: “Ugochinyere’s allegation is grave. He accused Leadership of the House of receiving bribe from Bill Gates. It is an international scandal. It damages the image of our country. It affects all of us. Let him prove it if he has the facts, or be man enough to publicly apologise”
Joseph Balogun agrees with him, and blames the Judiciary. “For such an allegation, the Court should have asked him to go and prove his case, instead of giving a restraining order. That is the only way to stop many of these lies, capable of deceiving people, and causing more problems for us in the country.”
