Date Published: 05/23/11
Action Congress of Nigeria Gov. candidate in Benue, Prof. Ugbah, detained in Abuja
…Keyamo says it's a travesty and attempt to muzzle opposition
…Gov. Spokesman, Akwaya, fires back "He has been inciting the public"
The Governorship candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria ,(AC N) in the last gubernatorial poll in Benue State, Prof. Steve Ugbah, has been detained on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, in Abuja.
Sources in Abuja hinted that he may be charged to court by Tuesday for a string of undisclosed charges.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that Ugbah who honored an invitation by the police authorities for routine questioning , sequel to a petition by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, was promptly arrested and detained.
The spokesman for the Governor, Dr Cletus Akwaya, in a telephone chat said Ugbah broke the law by openly accusing Suswan of the murder of the late AC N chieftain, Charles Ayede, and calling out his supporters to revolt against the administration. But human rights attorney, Festus Keyamo in statement Monday described the invitation, arrest and detention of Ugbah as the latest in the series of coordinated actions by the Police authorities in connivance with the Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, aimed at harassing and intimidating the opposition
Keyamo also said no fewer than 12 memebers of the Action Congress of Nigeria were still being detained by the police, as part of the alleged clampdown.
It was learnt that his detention is not unconnected with alleged strings of inciting statements, he had made in the days following the declaration of Suswan as Governor-Elect.
Ugbah and the AC N’s senator elect in the Benue North West district, George Akume had been invited by the police. But while Akume was allowed to go home , Ugbah was detained at theForce Headquarters and later moved to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Area 10.
According to Akwaya “ He has been inciting the public, he has been telling the people that late Charles Ayede was murdered by the Governor, He held several media briefings , distributing the photos of late Ayede, claiming the government killed him. He went to the extent of saying he won’t be able to restrain his followers if they resort to violence”
Akwaya continued “ It is very unfortunate that he would used the unfortunate incident to score a political points, not decent at all. He keeps saying his mandate was stolen, when he knows if you have a grudge you go to the tribunal, not keep saying your mandate was stolen. If he has information about the murder of Ayede, he should tell the police, provide evidence and let them do the investigation”
But Keyamo, in statement made available to Pointblanknews.com said “ before the arrest and detention of Prof. Ugbah, the following ACN supporters have been arrested and detained by the Police authorities: Atime Tersoo , Wuese Myina , Ortese Cyprian, Hono Cyprain, JP – Simon Sachia (son of Cyprain Huno) , Songo Terry , Akaachir Mfeseer – (a 14 year old pupil of St. Michael primary School, Ajio). Asniekaa Terwase , Ager Godwin , Tsehe Iorfa , Yuazwa Terhemen , and Bem Gunji “
Keyamo alleged further that “ In a bid to cover-up these massive rigging, the Governor launched a vitriolic attack on opponents and perceived enemies, especially his most potent rivals in the Action Congress of Nigeria. On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, seven gun men entered the home of the Chairman of ACN in Benue State , Comrade Abba Yaro, beat him up and his wife (breaking her teeth in the process) and demanded for the evidence so far collated by the ACN to use in the Election Tribunal. They left after carting away as much as they could. On Friday, May 13, 2011, the Chief Media Adviser to the ACN Governorship Candidate, Mr. Charles Ayede, was murdered by hired assassins in an ambush along Lafia-Makurdi Road . At the time of the murder, he was in company of Mr. Adaa Maagbe, an ACN party chieftain in Benue State . This was two days after a known associate of Governor Suswan, Mr. Tahav Agerzua was caught filming the premises of the said Mr. Adaa Maagbe who was targeted in the assassination with the deceased. The intruder was promptly arrested and handed over to the Police, who released him shortly after without investigation.”
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