DSS DENIES ALLEGATION OF KILLING DR. CHIKE AKUNYILI

 

 

The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to an allegation that its operatives killed Dr. Chike Akunyili. Also, the Service was alerted to a social media video claiming that the “Nigerian DSS” murdered security escorts at Nkpor, Anambra State on 28th September, 2021.  

Peter Afunanya, Ph.D

Public Relations Officer,Department of State Services in a press release stated 

"The Service hereby denies these allegations and wishes to clearly state that they are spurious and illogical. There was no basis for the DSS to kill the Medical Doctor and/or fellow law enforcement agents. The Service cherishes life and believes in the rule of law". 

The public should therefore be wary of the false narratives by those desirous of using it (the Service) to cover up their heinous acts. The operations of these hostile elements are already well known in the public space and to the discerning.  Moreover, their desperate effort to divert attention or deploy reverse psychology to deceive unsuspecting members of the public has become a stock in trade that has defined their patterns and trends. It is a matter of time before the law will catch up with them"

Meanwhile, the Service and sister agencies will not relent in tracking down those behind the breakdown of law and order in parts of the country with  a view to bringing them to justice. 

NN DISCLAIMER OVER SUBMISSION AT A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE

 

The House of Representative Committee on National Security and Intelligence yesterday 27 September 2021 held a public hearing on 4 Bills, including the Bill for an Act to Establish the National Commission Against Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (HB 10). During the hearing on this Bill, the representative of the Nigerian Navy (NN) duly presented the position of the Service on the proposed Act but went ahead to make some unauthorized, personal comments on the issue of trans national trafficking of small arms and light weapons. This is as it relates to neighbours with which Nigeria maintains robust diplomatic security relationships/collaborations; a personal opinion that is at variance with the position of the NN. 

The NN wishes to categorically dissociate itself from the view of the senior officer. The NN appreciates the indelible contributions of our regional partners/neighbours in the fight against smal] arms and light weapons trafficking. Pertinently, effective and sustained regional cooperation towards ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is a key pronty of the NN. Against this background, the Service acknowledges the regional security efforts of our neighbouring countries within the exstng frameworks of bilateral and multilateral cooperations and commits to working assiduously to strengthening these arrangements. Onwards Together. 

UNODC,Germany collaborate with Bayelsa State to launch Project to Support Community-based Crime Prevention Strategies in the Niger Delta.

 

 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support of the German government are collaborating  with  Bayelsa State government to fight crime in the Niger Delta region.

The collaboration kicked off on Wednesday in Bayelsa with  an inception workshop to address crime and insecurity in the Niger Delta on 21 September 2021 at the Golden Tulip in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. 

The inception meeting launched the consultative process for the development of a comprehensive community-based crime prevention strategy and action plans initially targeting select communities across the Niger Delta region.

 The project is creating a platform of action bringing together various stakeholders including civil society organisations, traditional institutions, youth groups, local government, local law enforcement institutions, security agencies and criminal justice sector institutions. The project kick started with endorsement of the Governor of Bayelsa State, H.E. Senator Douye Diri, accompanied by members of his cabinet, including the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor, members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, and National Assembly Members.

 In his opening speech, Governor Diri stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of crime and insecurity and to design a pan-regional response to the crisis, based on the traditional ties among the coastal communities across the Niger Delta and the wider Gulf of Guinea. In this context, he further pledged that “the Bayelsa State Government under my leadership will support and work with the UNODC in actualising this project and propose to host the Gulf of Guinea Security Conference”.

In return, the Country Representative of the UNODC Nigeria, Oliver Stolpe expressed profound appreciation to the Bayelsa State Government for its hospitality and support. He highlighted that UNODC for several decades had provided extensive support to both government and civil society organizations developing laws and policies, strengthen institutions, build operational capacities of security and justice sector personnel. The objective of the project was to complement these efforts by directly engaging communities at the grassroots level in addressing the factors driving crime, insecurity and impunity in the Niger Delta. He further thanked the Government of H.E. Senator Douye Diri for inviting the UNODC and pledged to work towards achieving a “whole-of-society” approach to tackle these issues in the target communities in the Niger Delta region and build sustainable and trusting relationships between local communities and security and justice actors.

The event which was attended by King Jaja, Natural ruler of Opobo Kingdom and Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers. In his remark, speaking on behalf of Traditional Institutions and Communities, he emphasized that there is an urgent need to address the problem of drug use among young people, noting that there is a link between drug trafficking and insecurity.

Other traditional rulers present at the event include , King Bubaraye Dakolo, Ebenanaowei of Ekpetiama Clan, Bayelsa State, representative of King Spiff, Amayanabo of Twon Brass and Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Bayelsa State, welcomed the interventions and pledged to provide support to the UNODC and its project, and other relevant interventions in the Niger Delta.  Overall, the participants of the meeting emphasized on the need to leverage the power of local communities in influencing the trajectories of young people and help them make choices that will give them their best lives.                                                    

DSS shades the Punch Columnist,Abimbola, calls her an unintelligent woman

 

The Department of State Service DSS has taken a swipe at a Columnist with the Punch Newspaper Abimbola Adelakun.

The DSS in an article written by its Public Relations Officer Dr. Peter Afunanya titled " ABIMBOLA, I KNOW WHAT THE DSS REALLY REALLY DOES AND WANTS" urges the writer to be professional in her writings. The  article which was circulated to the media on Sunday also accuses a section of yellow journalism, bias reportage.  read:

"ABIMBOLA, I KNOW WHAT THE DSS REALLY REALLY DOES AND WANTS" 

 By Dr. Peter Afunanya 

Public Relations Officer

Department of State

 Services

Abimbola, I have read your piece, titled, WHAT DOES THE DSS REALLY REALLY DO?, published on the back page of 2nd September, 2021 edition of the Punch Newspaper. By my nature, I do not like joining issues and I know the Department of State Services that I represent and speak for does not like same. The reason is not farfetched. For me, I believe that people who have made up their minds about certain issues will hardly see the other side of the matter even in the face of glaring facts. While you may hold tenaciously to your opinions as duly expressed in the said article, I will educate you and many others who do not understand or appreciate what the DSS does. This is because I know, for sure, what it does. I also know what it wants. The DSS, by nature, is not flippant, loquacious or quarrelsome. It works by the rules. Its mandate is clearly spelt out and in case you do not know, you are kindly referred to the 1999 Constitution - Section 315(5); National Security Agencies (NSA) Act 1986 Cap. 74 and the SSS Instrument No.1 of 1999 as set out in Section 2 (3).    

The Service is primarily charged with the  detection and prevention, within Nigeria, of any crime against the internal security of the country. It is also saddled with the role of protection and preservation of all non-military classified matters and such other responsibilities affecting internal security or as may be directed by appropriate authorities. The aforementioned laws and extant relevant statutes clearly spell out the other functions of the Service to include investigations of threats to National Security (i.e. Espionage, Subversion, Sabotage, Economic Crimes of National Security dimension, Terrorism, Separatist Agitations and Inter-Group Conflicts, Threats to Law and Order); security vetting and background checks of prospective public officials and the provision of timely advice to Government on all matters of National Security. In which of these has the Service failed? None. I know you have many plans for yourself but I am certain you may not have succeeded with all of them. Yet, you have not stopped making efforts. Therefore, no government or its agency has claimed to possess the power to solve all of its problems. It is a steady work. Work in progress. 

I hope you are getting the point Aunty Abimbola. Are you with me? Note please that the DSS has not failed in its duty.  And whether it has failed or not is left to your judgment, part of which you have explicitly poured out in your article. The Service disagrees with your judgment and some of the issues you have raised. Put in historical perspective and context, the SSS has not failed in the discharge of its duty and the fact that it does not sing its feats does not translate to inefficiency or failure. Like any Intelligence organisation, it is an unsung hero. Its personnel, who daily face daunting challenges, are same. Not many know what intelligence failure or success is. But what do you do in an environment everyone has become a public affairs analyst or commentator. 

 All around the world, Intelligence agencies, the DSS inclusive, are known for being discreet and working behind the scenes to achieve their objectives. The advent of democracy and sustenance of same as ideal political system has called for more openness in their operations. This has undoubtedly put the organisations under pressure for accountability and transparency. It is therefore on the basis of intelligence governance that the Service considered this piece. As a responsible organisation, the Service deems it necessary to use this opportunity to address the public for the sake of those who lack the simple knowledge of understanding its affairs. Democracy at work! Isn’t it? As guardians of democracy and indeed the State, the Service owes citizens explanations at intervals. It is unfortunate that when the Service does not voice its successes, people like you accuse it of being introverted, uninspiring and antagonistic. I put it to you that the issues you have raised in your article are not factual. You only succeeded in joining those who consistently serve the public with  falsehood which they make to look like the truth. The DSS’ quietness in the face of aggression, abuse and attack should not be taken for docility, fear or surrender. Not at all. It is its avowed respect for dissent.

The seemingly sustained false narrative about the DSS dispersing doctors attending a Saudi organised recruitment anywhere in Abuja or Nigeria, despite a disclaimer by the agency, shows a mischievous intent to ridicule the Service. On your claim that "nobody in Nigeria associates the DSS with intelligence-gathering, stealthy and efficient operations”  is not true. Many celebrate the DSS. The Service has remained dedicated to its constitutional role of gathering and disseminating actionable intelligence to relevant consumers. You may be a powerful woman of the pen. You may not be well schooled in intelligence. Besides, you are not an intelligence consumer and do not know the quality of what is passed to relevant stakeholders. Intelligence sharing is guided by the basic principle of Need-To-Know. The operational successes of the Service daily make a difference in our country. But how will you know? The accusation of the Service and its sister agencies not doing well does not always add up. Assuming they were not performing, you and your likes will not possibly have the conducive environment to conjure serial propaganda against it(them). 

I am surprised at your doublespeak. You don’t like social media regulation, you do not like surveillance. You do not like deployment of technology in security administration. You and those you represent claim these erode privacy, right of expression and association. Ironically, you are recommending them. Why nah! Because they suit your narrative, abi?

Without publicizing its mode of operations, the DSS has continued to provide intelligence to counter threats of various dimensions. The deliberate exclusion of reports of successes by the Service exposes your bias and unfairness to the agency that thanklessly toils to protect you and fatherland. Abeg give us some accolades, *arabinrin* Abimbola. Wetin be ya interest sef? 

It is actually not in question what the DSS does. Ok now let’s go there. Ready? The DSS catches subversive elements, saboteurs, espionage agents, terrorists and insurgents. And it has caught and legally dealt with many. The Service ensures separatist agitators do not cause a breakdown of law and order or dismantle a country like Nigeria whose constitution provides that its unity is indivisible and indissoluble. Mind you, the Service guards the State as it also protects citizens. The Service forms alliances and partnerships with patriotic citizens and groups for common good. In doing these, the Service respects rights of suspects and indeed those of citizens. It obeys court orders and observes constitutional provisions. It collaborates with willing stakeholders to ensure lasting peace in the country. The DSS is loyal to Nigeria and her cause. Are you still in doubt about what the DSS does? Do not be, please.

Aside telling you what the DSS does, let me also tell you what it wants. It wants a peaceful and united Nigeria where everyone can pursue their legitimate businesses. It wants a country without banditry, kidnapping, corruption, political and electoral violence, militancy, armed robbery, ethno-religious conflicts, fake news etc. The DSS desires a country in which the media sees itself as a critical stakeholder in Nation building; a country where journalists will preach peace, tolerance, unity and not push for parochialism, division, violence and disrespect for constituted authorities.

Undoubtedly, sections of the Media, of late, is becoming awash with disparaging articles and commentaries, seeking to either cast aspersions on the DSS or undermine its constitutional roles. Recently, some canvassed for its dissolution and extermination. A few commentators have argued that it has no legal foundation to exist. Many are even engaged in the petty argument about what its real name is – SSS or DSS? No research. Only blind attacks. Other subversive groups also deploy yellow journalism, hacktivism, propaganda, imagined constitutional gaps and other forms of falsehood and subterfuge against the Service to rise to self acclaimed fame or advance pecuniary interests. Another trend is how sections of the media have become biased and willing tools for perpetrating sinister agenda as well as visibly displaying unprofessional journalism for the singular purpose of pulling the country down. These campaigns of calumny to deliberately malign, subvert or weaken the DSS are unnecessary. Publishing the image-sullying piece just days after it intimated the public of sponsored attacks against it is not coincidental. It has validated the agency’s forewarning.

Despite these smear campaigns, the DSS refuses to be distracted by the attempts to damage its reputation, distract it from its core mandate or demoralise its gallant personnel. While reiterating the Service’ commitment to discharging its duties in line with global best practices, rule of law and democratic accountability, it enjoins beloved Abimbola and the media to play their parts in preserving the National Security of Nigeria.

Hello! Abimbola, are you still there. Support the DSS. Support SSS. Support Security Agencies in Nigeria. We all deserve the Support, ejoo.

EFCC arrest 402 Lekki residents over Dating scam worth N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513

 

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The Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC has described Lekki area in Lagos state as the alleged new hub of internet-related fraud. 

 Wilson Uwujaren the Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC in a press statement on Friday revealed that  investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the alleged preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.

The statement read " Between April and June, 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded" 

He added that of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section of the commission, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.

"Ajah area  accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo communities  had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore area had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.

The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.

Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.

The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.

Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.

The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.

A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period"

CSOs DEMANDS POLICE COMPLIES WITH ORDERS OF COURT TO RELEASE GLORIA OKORIE ON BAIL OR PRODUCE HER IN COURT TO FACE HER TRIAL

 

 

 

Civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals across Nigeria strongly condemn the continued incarceration of 21-year-old Gloria Okorie by the police in utter disregard to Court orders directing the police to either release her or produce her in Court.

Gloria Okorie's parents were in search of their missing daughter for more than two weeks before it was revealed to them that their daughter was in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Owerri, Imo State. A commercial motorcycle operator, 41-year-old Izuchukwu Okeke, who was conveying Gloria and was also arrested along with her and detained at the Tiger Base, Owerri office of the IRT revealed her whereabouts to her parents after he was released from two weeks of illegal detention.

Gloria was eventually transferred to the Abuja headquarters of the IRT days after her parents and lawyers visited several times in a futile effort to secure her release, and after the Police had extorted various sums of money from them on false promises to release her.

Following the outrage that greeted public knowledge of the secret detention of the young woman and revelations that she had been held as a slave in custody - used for washing clothes and doing other humiliating chores, the police issued a belated, face-saving  statement in which they claimed that Gloria is an informant to IPOB/ESN and that they would charge her to Court 'soon' upon conclusion of “investigations”.

It was also reported that the police re-arrested and detained  Izuchukwu Okeke, the 41-year-old Commercial Motorcycle rider on July 5 when they lured him back to  IRT Tiger Base Owerri imo State for revealing that Gloria was in their custody and warned his family never to show up at the police station to ask for him or they would be shot. His whereabouts remain unknown till date.

Despite police's promise to 'soon' charge Gloria to court, they have continued to hold her in unlawful custody and her family and lawyers have been denied access to her since 17 June, 2021 when she was arrested -  nearly 80 days as of today.

Following a fundamental rights action brought on her behalf before an Abuja High Court presided over by His Lordship Honourable Justice Sylvester Oriji on Friday 27th August 2021, the Court ordered the police to release Gloria from unlawful custody or charge her to court. But the police have continued to detain her in flagrant disobedience to the orders of the Court. She has been held incommunicado, denied access to her family and lawyers.

The continued incommunicado detention of Gloria in flagrant disregard to a court order is irresponsible, unconstitutional and contemptuous of the Court. It is a further violation of her fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of her human person, presumption of innocence and fair trial. The actions of the police amount to a subversion of due process and rule of law.

Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees Gloria Okorie’s right to liberty. The Constitution provides that where the Police arrests a person, the police is required to bring the person before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours or 48 hours where the court is not within a 40km radius. Otherwise, the police are obligated to release the accused or detained person on bail.

The failure by the Nigeria Police to protect Gloria Okorie's fundamental rights is also a clear breach of the Police Act 2020 which establishes the Nigeria Police Force and defines the limits of its powers. Section 5(1) of the Police Act 2020 provides as follows:

The Police Force is responsible for promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of persons in police custody as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In Section 5(3), the Police Act further provides as follows:

In addition to the provisions of subsection (1) and (2) of this section, the Police Force is also charged with the responsibility of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of all persons as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and other international legal Instruments on Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory.

It is important to note that Section 9 (2) of the Police Act makes the office of the Inspector-General of the Police responsible for ensuring that the above provisions of the Police Act are adhered to and that suspects have their rights protected at all times. The said section provides as follows:

(2) The inspector-General shall, in addition to his functions under this section ensure the discharge by the Police Force of the responsibilities referred to under section 5 of this Act and for this purpose the inspector-General  shall:

(a) facilitate access to legal support for suspects, accused persons or detainees in police custody.

Pursuant to the aforesaid, we hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to use his good offices to put an end to the continued breach of Gloria Okorie’s fundamental rights; ensure that his men adhere to the provisions of the law and the order of the High Court as stated above and stop the further trampling on the Rule of Law.

The CJN, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad on September 23, 2019 noted that disobedience to court orders is a recipe for anarchy and admonished that:

“The rule of law must be observed in all our dealings and we must impress it on the governments at all levels to actively toe the path.

“The right of every citizen against any form of oppression and impunity must be jealously guarded and protected with the legal tools at our disposal.

“All binding court orders must be obeyed. Nobody, irrespective of his or her position, will be allowed to toy with court judgements”

We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to order his men to release Gloria Okorie on Bail immediately or otherwise charge her to court for prosecution if she has any case to answer.

The continued unlawful detention of Gloria Okorie and the contempt for the courts of the land only worsen the negative public perception of the police and widens the trust gap. It also raises the suspicion that there is more to this act of impunity than meets the ordinary eyes. Why is the police shielding Gloria from access to her family and lawyers?

The police, by their actions and posture, are only lending credence to the fears expressed in some quarters that Gloria may have been violated including sexually and likely impregnated. Going by records, this is not beyond the Nigeria Police.

The police must dispel these fears and suspicion by immediately complying with court orders to release Gloria without further delay.

The Nigeria Police cannot be seen to be institutionalising impunity by engaging in acts that are unconstitutional,  unlawful, irresponsible and lawless.

We also call on the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate release of the commercial motorcyclist re-arrested and detained for revealing Gloria Okorie's secret detention by the police.

 

 *Signed* :

 

1. Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC

 2. Samuel Akpologun Esq. Ace & Vanguard LP

 3. 'Deji Ajare, Access to Justice

 4. Wuyep Nanpon, Sterling Law Centre

 5. Inibehe Effiong

 6. Agba Jalingo

 7. Augusta Yaakugh, LIRAD

 8. Martin Obono - Tap Initiative

 9. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)

 10. FEMBUD

 11. Centre for Impact Advocacy

 12. JENNON PIUS Initiative

 13. Pastor Adedeji Adeleye, Exec. Dir, Independent Advocacy Project IAP Lagos

 14. Ayibasienghe Koko Aluzu Esq.

 15. Deji Adeyanju, Concerned Nigeria Group

 16. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, TMG

17. Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD Nigeria.

18. Harrison Gwamnishu, Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation

19. Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative

20. Centre for Liberty

21. Ayibasienghe Koko Aluzu Esq.

22. Prince Chris Azor, International Peace & Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC)

23. Prison Inmate Development Initiative PIDI-NIGERIA

24. Chief Patrick Elohor, One Love Human Rights and Caring Foundation

25. Justice for Peace and Development Initiative

26. Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria

27. Legal Resources Consortium

28. Cheta Nwanze

29. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman TMG

30. Initiative for Equal Rights

31. Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP)

32.Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER)

33. Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC)

34. Toyin Raheem, Coordinator, miwNPF/Chairman CACOBAG

35. Civic Space Consortium

36. Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, CACOBAG

37. Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights

38. Movement for Improved Welfare for Nigeria Police Force (miwNPF)

39. Richard F. Inoyo, Country Director, Citizens’ Solution Network

40. Abdulrahman Akindele Ayuba, Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE)

41. Raising New Voices Initiative

42. Dinidari Foundation

43. Cenre for Transparency Advocacy

44. Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF)

45. Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV)

CSOs DEMANDS POLICE COMPLIES WITH ORDERS OF COURT TO RELEASE GLORIA OKORIE ON BAIL OR PRODUCE HER IN COURT TO FACE HER TRIAL

 

 

 

Civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals across Nigeria strongly condemn the continued incarceration of 21-year-old Gloria Okorie by the police in utter disregard to Court orders directing the police to either release her or produce her in Court.

Gloria Okorie's parents were in search of their missing daughter for more than two weeks before it was revealed to them that their daughter was in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Owerri, Imo State. A commercial motorcycle operator, 41-year-old Izuchukwu Okeke, who was conveying Gloria and was also arrested along with her and detained at the Tiger Base, Owerri office of the IRT revealed her whereabouts to her parents after he was released from two weeks of illegal detention.

Gloria was eventually transferred to the Abuja headquarters of the IRT days after her parents and lawyers visited several times in a futile effort to secure her release, and after the Police had extorted various sums of money from them on false promises to release her.

Following the outrage that greeted public knowledge of the secret detention of the young woman and revelations that she had been held as a slave in custody - used for washing clothes and doing other humiliating chores, the police issued a belated, face-saving  statement in which they claimed that Gloria is an informant to IPOB/ESN and that they would charge her to Court 'soon' upon conclusion of “investigations”.

It was also reported that the police re-arrested and detained  Izuchukwu Okeke, the 41-year-old Commercial Motorcycle rider on July 5 when they lured him back to  IRT Tiger Base Owerri imo State for revealing that Gloria was in their custody and warned his family never to show up at the police station to ask for him or they would be shot. His whereabouts remain unknown till date.

Despite police's promise to 'soon' charge Gloria to court, they have continued to hold her in unlawful custody and her family and lawyers have been denied access to her since 17 June, 2021 when she was arrested -  nearly 80 days as of today.

Following a fundamental rights action brought on her behalf before an Abuja High Court presided over by His Lordship Honourable Justice Sylvester Oriji on Friday 27th August 2021, the Court ordered the police to release Gloria from unlawful custody or charge her to court. But the police have continued to detain her in flagrant disobedience to the orders of the Court. She has been held incommunicado, denied access to her family and lawyers.

The continued incommunicado detention of Gloria in flagrant disregard to a court order is irresponsible, unconstitutional and contemptuous of the Court. It is a further violation of her fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of her human person, presumption of innocence and fair trial. The actions of the police amount to a subversion of due process and rule of law.

Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees Gloria Okorie’s right to liberty. The Constitution provides that where the Police arrests a person, the police is required to bring the person before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours or 48 hours where the court is not within a 40km radius. Otherwise, the police are obligated to release the accused or detained person on bail.

The failure by the Nigeria Police to protect Gloria Okorie's fundamental rights is also a clear breach of the Police Act 2020 which establishes the Nigeria Police Force and defines the limits of its powers. Section 5(1) of the Police Act 2020 provides as follows:

The Police Force is responsible for promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of persons in police custody as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In Section 5(3), the Police Act further provides as follows:

In addition to the provisions of subsection (1) and (2) of this section, the Police Force is also charged with the responsibility of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of all persons as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and other international legal Instruments on Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory.

It is important to note that Section 9 (2) of the Police Act makes the office of the Inspector-General of the Police responsible for ensuring that the above provisions of the Police Act are adhered to and that suspects have their rights protected at all times. The said section provides as follows:

(2) The inspector-General shall, in addition to his functions under this section ensure the discharge by the Police Force of the responsibilities referred to under section 5 of this Act and for this purpose the inspector-General  shall:

(a) facilitate access to legal support for suspects, accused persons or detainees in police custody.

Pursuant to the aforesaid, we hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to use his good offices to put an end to the continued breach of Gloria Okorie’s fundamental rights; ensure that his men adhere to the provisions of the law and the order of the High Court as stated above and stop the further trampling on the Rule of Law.

The CJN, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad on September 23, 2019 noted that disobedience to court orders is a recipe for anarchy and admonished that:

“The rule of law must be observed in all our dealings and we must impress it on the governments at all levels to actively toe the path.

“The right of every citizen against any form of oppression and impunity must be jealously guarded and protected with the legal tools at our disposal.

“All binding court orders must be obeyed. Nobody, irrespective of his or her position, will be allowed to toy with court judgements”

We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to order his men to release Gloria Okorie on Bail immediately or otherwise charge her to court for prosecution if she has any case to answer.

The continued unlawful detention of Gloria Okorie and the contempt for the courts of the land only worsen the negative public perception of the police and widens the trust gap. It also raises the suspicion that there is more to this act of impunity than meets the ordinary eyes. Why is the police shielding Gloria from access to her family and lawyers?

The police, by their actions and posture, are only lending credence to the fears expressed in some quarters that Gloria may have been violated including sexually and likely impregnated. Going by records, this is not beyond the Nigeria Police.

The police must dispel these fears and suspicion by immediately complying with court orders to release Gloria without further delay.

The Nigeria Police cannot be seen to be institutionalising impunity by engaging in acts that are unconstitutional,  unlawful, irresponsible and lawless.

We also call on the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate release of the commercial motorcyclist re-arrested and detained for revealing Gloria Okorie's secret detention by the police.

 

 *Signed* :

 

1. Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC

 2. Samuel Akpologun Esq. Ace & Vanguard LP

 3. 'Deji Ajare, Access to Justice

 4. Wuyep Nanpon, Sterling Law Centre

 5. Inibehe Effiong

 6. Agba Jalingo

 7. Augusta Yaakugh, LIRAD

 8. Martin Obono - Tap Initiative

 9. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)

 10. FEMBUD

 11. Centre for Impact Advocacy

 12. JENNON PIUS Initiative

 13. Pastor Adedeji Adeleye, Exec. Dir, Independent Advocacy Project IAP Lagos

 14. Ayibasienghe Koko Aluzu Esq.

 15. Deji Adeyanju, Concerned Nigeria Group

 16. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, TMG

17. Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD Nigeria.

18. Harrison Gwamnishu, Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation

19. Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative

20. Centre for Liberty

21. Ayibasienghe Koko Aluzu Esq.

22. Prince Chris Azor, International Peace & Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC)

23. Prison Inmate Development Initiative PIDI-NIGERIA

24. Chief Patrick Elohor, One Love Human Rights and Caring Foundation

25. Justice for Peace and Development Initiative

26. Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria

27. Legal Resources Consortium

28. Cheta Nwanze

29. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman TMG

30. Initiative for Equal Rights

31. Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP)

32.Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER)

33. Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC)

34. Toyin Raheem, Coordinator, miwNPF/Chairman CACOBAG

35. Civic Space Consortium

36. Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, CACOBAG

37. Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights

38. Movement for Improved Welfare for Nigeria Police Force (miwNPF)

39. Richard F. Inoyo, Country Director, Citizens’ Solution Network

40. Abdulrahman Akindele Ayuba, Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE)

41. Raising New Voices Initiative

42. Dinidari Foundation

43. Cenre for Transparency Advocacy

44. Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF)

45. Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV)