Date Published: 11/22/09

PRESS RELEASE

RE: IMO ASSEMBLY ORDERS KALU’S ARREST: HRJPF SAYS NO TO IT

The attention of the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) has been drawn to a story captioned “Imo Assembly Orders Kalu’s Arrest” published by the Vanguard newspaper issue of 19 th November, 2009.

According to the story, the House in a unanimous resolution “directed the Clerk of the House to take appropriate measures to contact the Inspector-General of Police, the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the Assembly’s Sergeant-At-Arms to carry out the directive”, following the alleged refusal of Kalu and Mr. Maximum Uba to appear before the House to answer to the allegation of financial misappropriation they leveled against Governor Ohakim.

Although the HRJPF – a known critic of former Governor Kalu - does not intend to hold brief for him, it considers the order for his arrest as unwarranted and irresponsible.

It is the studied opinion of the HRJPF that since Kalu had through his counsel apologized to the House that he could not honour their November 10 invitation owing to his foreign trip; the House could have waited for his return to the country. For a situation where the Imo lawmakers, without giving Kalu fair hearing, would presume him guilty of supplying them with false information portrays them as willing and ready tools in the hands of Governor Ohakim in his on-going battle with Kalu.

Accordingly, the HRJPF calls on the Inspector-General of Police not to carry out the directive of the Imo State House of Assembly since Kalu is the accuser, and not the accused.

However, the HRJPF calls on Code of Conduct Bureau and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the allegations leveled against Governor Ohakim by Kalu.

Comrade Chidi Nwosu

President