By Kelvin Ohoror
The legitimacy of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu led Nigeria’s democratic government is seriously being put to test as indigenes of Okuama community, Ewu- Urhobo Kingdom, Ughelli South local government area of Delta State painfully lament continuous detention of their leaders by the Nigerian Army without trial.
The indigenes of Okuama noted with concern that six leaders of their community, namely Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr James Oghoroko, Dennis Okugbaye, Dennis Amalaka and Mrs Mabel Owhemu, who were arrested by military men between August 18 & 19, 2024, have been in military custody for a year now and their rights to fair hearing in a competent court of law have been grossly and steadily violated by the Nigerian Army which also deprives them access to their doctors, lawyers and family members.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference, at the behest of Comrade Edewor Egedegbe, Human Rights Advocate and Chairman BOT at Citizens Right Concern Enhancement Initiative (CRCEI), aka Human Rights Protection Congress, to draw global attention to the plight of the Okuama detainees and compel the President Tinubu led government to protect the detainees’ right to fair hearing, the indigenes of Okuama community noted that the action of the Nigerian Army flagrantly violates the fundamental rights of the detainees, including the dignity of human person as guaranteed in the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
They added that the non-release of their leaders by the army makes a mockery of Nigerian democracy.
They frowned at the blatant disregard for rule of law and the Nigerian judicial system by the military authorities, revealing that sustained efforts to commit the military to due legal process in the Okuama imbroglio had been futile.
The indigenes are particularly worried that President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary are looking away while the military works to subvert the rule of law in Nigeria. They noted that the fronting of military investigation in the Okuama incident, in a democracy, conflicts sharply with the country’s criminal justice system.
It would be recalled that one of the detainees, Pa. James Oghorokor had died in military custody in the endless wait for justice, prompting the indigenes to express fear over the state of health of other detainees.
They reiterated the sanctity of the life of every Nigerian as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution and called for a thorough and proper investigation into the killing of the 17 service men along the Forcados River on March 14, 2024 that precipitated the Okuama crisis.
They appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ede Dafinone, to, as a matter of urgency, ensure the release of the detained Okuama leaders on the ground that there is no prima facie evidence in the possession of the military to validate the detainees’ complicity in the alleged crime.
