Rights Group Accuse Ikwerre LGA Boss Of Instigating Arrest Of Lawyer, Physically Challenged Man On Frivolous Charges

…..As Ikwerre Council Boss Describe Allegations As False And Malicious

A group known as Lawyers Watch For Justice International Initiative(LAWJII) has petitioned Inspector General of Police,Nigeria Mohamned Adamu over false accusation, unlawful arrest and detention,flagrant disrespect for rule of law by officers of Nigerian Police Force on alleged orders of Hon Samuel Nwanosike,Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government area of Rivers state,against Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff a legal practitioner and member of Nigerian Bar Association,PortHarcourt branch, and Ekele Onuah a physically challenged business man.

A letter dated 20th February,2020 and signed by Barrister Gbenga Oladapo on behalf of the group, stated that the duo of Geoffrey and Ekele Our were arrested on the 17th and 19th days of February, 2020 respectively, at the alleged behest of Hon. Samuel Nwanosike and a member of Onuah family despite the pendency of the case in court restraining parties from further arrest.LAWJII in the statement explained that the duo masterminded the arrest of Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff, Esq and Ekele Onuah on trumped-up charges.

The petition revealed that the duo had earlier arrested Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff, Esq; Elder Rowland C. Wali-Onuah, JP; Sir Godfrey A. Wali-Onuah, JP; Mr Emmanuel Nwoka, JP; Mr Kennedy C. Onuah and Pastor Precious K. Chukwuemeka-Onuah.

The group disclosed that the whole saga started upon the removal of the member of Onuah family by the Omu-Wume/Omu-Okpi Families who appointed him their representative/CLO to All Grace Energy Limited/Wester Ord Oil & Gas Limited (Joint Venture), which position the person has used to enrich himself to the detriment of
the said families.

The Lawyers Watch group said based on the families’ gross dissatisfaction with the former CLO to All Grace Energy Limited the CLO was removed and replaced with Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff and the company was also communicated on this development by the said families.

The rights organization explained that rather than the former CLO to accept his his removal in good faith, he allegedly connived with with Hon. Samuel Nwanosike to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain all principal members of the families who were involved in this decision.

The petitioner explained that the Council Boss and the member of Onuah family concocted falsehood and brought trumped-up charges against all persons involved and had them arrested and detained by the police and SARS for days based on the said charges which prompted all persons involved to approach the court for the protection of their fundamental rights in suits No. FHC/3195/2019 and FHC/PH/FHR/172/2019, both of which are still pending in court.

According to the group, the said duo have further masterminded the arrest of Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff, Esq together with another member of his family (Ekele Onuah) who expressed displeasure with the recent arrest, in flagrant disrespect of the court, without cognizance that suits are pending in a competent court of law between the parties involved.

The rights advocacy centre described the actions of Hon. Samuel Nwanosike and a member of the Onuah family as not only wicked, preposterous and outrageous but extremely overreached and denigrating of the court and capable of causing serious breakdown of law and order in the community and society at large if allowed to continue.

The group said the most worrisome is the action of the officers of the Nigerian Police Force who have decided to lend themselves as a willing tool for oppression to intimidate, harass, oppress, arrest, detain and over reach the court.

LAWJII argued that assuming without conceding, that the duo: Hon. Samuel Nwanosike and the member of Onuah family do not understand the implications of the actions, it is expected that the officers of the Nigerian Police Force will not act with indiscretion but with due diligence and respect for the rule of law as law enforcement officers.

The group maintained that the police who arrested the Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff were duly informed of the pendency of fundamental rights actions in court but being motivated by personal gains kept on reiterating that it is not their business whether a case is pending in court or not.

The statement noted that Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff was arrested as soon as he was leaving the court premises. He does not have any criminal record whatsoever and has not committed any crime whatsoever to warrant his arrest. He is a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with inherent rights deserving of respect by the state; and the brother Ekele Onuah (a physically challenged) young man who was arrested on the 19th February 2020 is also harmless and did nothing wrong to warrant his arrest

LAWJII urged the Inspector General of Police to use his good office to ensure the immediate release of the Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff and Ekele Onuah who have both been arrested; and ensure the arrest and prosecution of the Hon. Samuel Nwanosike,the member of Onuah family and all police officers involved in the indiscriminate arrest and detention.

The petition was copied to the following:

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters
Senate Building,
Three Arms Zone,
Abuja,
Federal Capital Territory.

The Senate Committee on Police Affairs,
Senate Building,
Three Arms Zone,
Abuja,
Federal Capital Territory

The Police Service Commission,
Federal Secretariat Complex,
Shehu Shagari Way,
Abuja.
Federal Capital Territory.

The Executive Secretary,
National Human Rights Commission,
Aguyi Ironsi Street,
Maitama, PMB 444, Garki,
Abuja,
FCT

Amnesty International

Gentlemen of Press

The Chief Press Secretary to Hon Samuel Nwanosike,Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Chris Omodu in his reaction said the content of the petition is false.

Read Full Response Below

RE: PETITION MADE AGAINST HONOURABLE SAMUEL NWANOSIKE (CHAIRMAN, IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA), MR DANDISON O. ONUAH AND OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE ON FLAGRANT DISRESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW, FALSE ACCUSATION, UNLAWFUL ARREST AND DETENTION OF GEOFFREY IKECHI AND EKELE ONUAH

My attention has been drawn to a concocted and frivolous petition levelled against the Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Engr Samuel Nwanosike, JP, by Lawyers Watch For Justice International Initiative and signed by One Gbenga Oladapo, Esq, on 20th February, 2020, under the guise of Save Our Souls (SOS) to The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, The Senate Committee on Police Affairs, The Police Service Commission, The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International over the arrest and detention of Geoffrey Ikechi-Jeff, Esq, and Ekele Onuah by men of the Nigeria Police Force on 17th and 19th of February, 2020, for impersonation as Representatives/CLO of Omu-Wume/Omu-Okpi Families to All Grace Energy Limited/Wester Ord Oil and Gas Limited (Joint Venture).

The Lawyers Watch For Justice International Initiative has alleged in the petition that the arrest and detention of the duo were masterminded by Hon Engr Samuel Nwanosike (JP) and Mr Dandison O. Onuah on trumped-up charges.

For record purpose, I want to categorically state that:

1. All the allegations contained in the petition are false, not true.
2. Hon Engr Samuel Nwanosike, JP, is the Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council who hails from Omagwa Community of the LGA and not an indigene of the community or a member of the families in question.
3. Hon Engr Samuel Nwanosike, JP, is not a law enforcement agent, thus cannot arrest and detain any person.
4. Hon Engr Samuel Nwanosike, JP, is a law abiding citizen who had sworn an oath as the Executive Chairman of Ikwerre LGA to protect the lives and properties of Ikwerre LGA people and cannot stoke up misunderstanding or enmity in any community of the LGA he sworn an oath to protect.

I hereby called on the Inspector General of Police, the various Senate committees, commissions and organisations to invite the Lawyers Watch For Justice International Initiative for questioning and prove of her malicious allegations.

By Hon Chris Omodu,
Chief Press Secretary, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State
20/02/2020

The spokesperson of Rivers State Police command,Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) Nnamdi Omoni was yet to respond to text messages sent to his mobile line by our reporter on his response to the allegations against his men.