CLO Condemns Continuous Detention Of PH Based Lawyer By Abuja Police Without Trial

The Civil Liberties Organization(CLO) has condemned the continuous detention of citizen Jeff Ikechi Geoffrey a PortHarcourt based Legal Practitioner and member of Nigerian Bar Association by Police Officers in Abuja without trial.

A press statement issued by the Chairman of CLO,South South Comrade Karl Ugchegbu Chinedu argued that the continuous detention of citizen Jeff Ikechi Esq without trial is unlawful.

Read Press Statement Below

CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION, C.L.O , SOUTH SOUTH ZONE
Legacy Centre,  Abuja Lane, Off Wogu Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt.

Press    Statement , March 17, 2020

On the Continued illegal detention and torture of citizen Jeff Ikechi
Esq by the police at Abuja
The attention of the South South Zone of the Civil Liberties
Organization, CLO, has been drawn to an arbitrary arrest, HUMILIATION,
police brutality, torture, illegal detention without trial of Citizen
Ikechi Jeff by police men from the FCID, Abuja allegedly  procured by
one Mr Dandyson Onuah of Ubima, Ikwerri LGA of Rivers state.
IKECHI Jeff, a legal practitioner who also hails from Ubima, was
arrested in Gestapo style in Portharcourt on Monday, February 17, 2020
by Policemen from FCID, Abuja. He was whisked away to Abuja from Port
Harcourt same day and has since then remained in communicado in police
detention. We fear that he may be subjected to cruel and subhuman
treatments as he is denied access to his family members, lawyers and
others.  We are also worried for his safety as the said Mr Dan dyson
was said to have boasted that Jkechi Jeff will either back out from
his position as the community liaison officer, CLO/family
representative  of All Grace Energy Ltd/Western Ord Oil and Gas Ltd,
an oil servicing joint venture operating in their community or be
killed.

He is said to be subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman treatment by
the police in a desperate bid to force him to relinquish the position
of CLO/family representative  of the aforementioned All Grace Energy
Lta/Western Ord Oil and Gas Ltd, a position assigned to him by his
community.
The officers who partook in the illegal arrest include Mr Joseph with
phone number, 07031288107 and Mr Emmanuel with phone number,
07068777115

According to information at the disposal of this organization, the
said Dandyson Onuah was said to have resorted to the use of policemen
to hunt, terrorize and torment Jeff for daring to accept to serve as
the CLO/community representative of the company, a position given to
him by his community when Dandyson was removed by the family as a
result of alleged corruption and embezzlement.
Ikechi Jeff was first arrested on September 11 and detained at Ubima
Police Division on a trumped up charge of cultism. He was moved to the
notorious SARS at Rukpokwu on September 12 and to SCID ON September
13, 2019. He was later released on the orders of the Deputy
Commissioner of Police when it was found out that he was wrongly
accused. It was also gathered that after his release, Policemen from
Abuja stormed Portharcourt and whisked him away to Abuja on trumped up
charge of forging the signatures of his family members who sent a
letter to the company removing Dandyson as the CLO.

The continued detention without trial of Jeff is unlawful,
unconstitutional, illegal, an affront to rule of law, a violation of
his fundamental rights to fair hearing, dignity of human person,
personal liberty, safety, movement and freedom from inhuman and
degrading treatment as enshrined in chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution
of Nigeria and other human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a
signatory.
It is shameful and worrisome that the Police has allowed itself to be
dragged into the issue that is ordinarily a family issue that can at
worst be settled in a court of competent jurisdiction.

We call on the Inspector General of Police, IG, to prevail on the DIG
and AIG at the FCID, Abuja to release Citizen Jeff unconditionally
without further delay.

We also call on human rights groups and international community to
prevail on the IG of the Nigeria police force to do the needful and
ensure Jeff is released immediately.
However, if the Police have any reason not to release him, they should
charge him to a competent court in
Port Harcourt where fair hearing would be guaranteed.

Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, is foremost human rights NGO aimed
at protecting and promoting the rights of citizens.

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
Call or send SMS to the following and politely ask them to release
Jeff or charge him to court.

Signed:

Karl Ugchegbu Chinedu,

Chairman,

South South,

Civil Liberties Organization.