New facts emerged have emerged on the ordeal of Austin Okojie, the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner while in the custody of the Department of State Security.
Mr. Okojie was arrested two weeks ago, detained and tortured by the DSS, who only released him Saturday after 13 days in detention. He has been asked to report daily to the DSS office for further interrogation.
It was gathered that Okojie could barely walk or speak upon his release after being serially brutalized by the DSS. “They were interrogating him about his relationship with the PDP in Akwa-Ibom State and former Governor Akpabio. He was tied to a chair for 13 days and tortured to confess that he connived with PDP to rig the elections. At the time they released him, he could barely even talk or stand well”, said a family source who pleaded anonymity.
“The desperation by the DSS to get Okojie to indict former Governor Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State and the PDP in Akwa-Ibom State may have forced them to employ drastic measures in securing a confession from Okojie”, an informed security source told said on Monday. Okojie, it was gathered, however stood his grounds refusing to grant false evidence during the DSS interrogation.
Okojie was only released after severe pressure from the PDP and civil society advocates. A group under the auspices of the Public Interest Lawyers League had accused the DSS of unduly harassing the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner.
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