The woman, who addressed an open letter to the Chief of Naval Staff, explained that she had not seen her husband, a naval officer since September 2020 when he left the house for a training at the naval base.
A woman, Hajiya Rabi'atu Abdullah Rogo, has pleaded with the Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, for the release of her husband, Abubakar Jibrin, who was detained without any offence.
The woman, who addressed an open letter to the Chief of Naval Staff, explained that she had not seen her husband, a naval officer since September 2020 when he left the house for a training at the naval base.
She alleged that injustice was meted out against Jibrin as she stated that he was being held for “doing nothing.”
The aggrieved woman lamented that she did not know the condition of her husband — dead or alive adding that her children had been out of school since January 2021 due to the absence of their father who is the breadwinner of the family.
She further called on the Chief of Naval Staff to allow her access to her husband who was initially held at the Naval base in Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She wrote, “There are many signs of injustice. PO Abubakar AJ was beaten, tortured, handcuffed for over 3 months in detention by LT CDR AS Adamu; my husband was denied medical attention; he gradually lost his sight and hearing, and he was charged for a crime he knows nothing about.
”Sir, there is nothing done so far about this injustice since you've been piloting the affairs of the navy as the chief of naval staff. However, it would seem some overzealous officers want to tag you with an image that does not belong to you. We do not think you should let them.
“PO Abubakar AJ is a patriotic Nigerian, an indigene of Kano State and citizen of Federal Republic of Nigeria and service personnel who has remained in detention since Sunday, 29 of November 2020. We the family expect that immediately upon his arrest, they would inform us why they arrested him and other steps that would be taken.
”We thought they would question him and free him within 24 or 48 hours (on bail unconditionally) or charge him to court for whatever offence they think he has committed; they constitute a court trial but they keep adjourning the proceedings.
”But up till now we’ve heard nothing from PO Abubakar AJ, he is still held incommunicado. The family does not know why they are keeping him there because the navy isn’t saying anything and they just think this is okay.
“Well, it’s not okay. They have to release him, his children are out of school since January 2021, He’s service personnel and a family man; he is not a criminal.
Some months ago, SaharaReporters had reported that Jibrin, was locked up at the Nigerian Navy’s base, Ship Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after he was arrested for offering a lift to someone who was suspected to have been in possession of illegal arms about seven years ago.
The suspected arms dealer was thereafter arrested and proven innocent by a court of law.
He was subsequently set free but the officer remained in custody, a relative told SaharaReporters at the time.