The gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, was flown from Abuja to Uyo today in a police helicopter after his attorneys completed his bail application before an Abuja Federal High Court judge, Adamu Bello.
The gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, was flown from Abuja to Uyo today in a police helicopter after his attorneys completed his bail application before an Abuja Federal High Court judge, Adamu Bello.
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Mr. Akpanudoedehe is being held at the Ikot Akpan Abia police station in very unsanitary conditions.
His wife and his lawyer, Niyi Akintola (SAN), were stunned by the action of the police which is playing out like a scene from the Wild, Wild West as the police authorities seem motivated by something other than the rule of law or the protection of human rights.
Observers point out SaharaReporters that it is extremely unusual for the police to use a helicopter to fly a crime suspect. Family sources have also told SaharaReporters that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, told them during the weekend that Mr. Akpanudoedehe's predicament was "beyond his power", claiming that he was acting on “orders from above” to keep the opposition candidate out of circulation. That would confirm the interest of the ruling People’s Democratic Party to prevent Mr. Akpanudoedehe from contesting the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
The IGP, as Saharareporters has previously revealed, has allegedly received a handsome bribe of N500 million from Akwa Ibom governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, to rope Akpanudoedehe into a complex and protracted criminal trial. The police wanted to try him for treason in a case that involves the clash of supporters of two political parties. The only supporters arrested, 41 persons, are all from Mr. Akpanudoedehe’s ACN. None of the PDP supporters who were involved in the chaos has even been questioned.
The treason charge against Mr. Akpanudoedhe collapsed last week in Abuja as the judge said he could see no evidence before the court to sustain a trial. The judge therefore granted Akpanudoedehe bail, but right there and then in the court room as the suspect perfected his bail papers, over 50 special mobile police officers stormed the courtroom, assaulted him and caused the process to stop. Their attempt to spirit him off to Uyo for trial was frustrated because the police helicopter to be used for the purpose had developed mechanical problems. They then placed Mr. Akpanudoedehe in prison custody to enable him conclude his bail formalities today.
In the meantime, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State government has charged 41 persons with murder and arson. Rumors are rife that three of those detained have died of food poisoning. SaharaReporters sources said the same fate awaited the ACN gubernatorial candidate as soon as his helicopter touched the ground in Uyo. They expect one of the judges already put in place for the purpose to remand him in prison custody for a long period time so as to prevent him from further campaigning in the state for the April 23 governorship elections.
Only last Friday, the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly approved a new law, proposed by Governor Akpabio that grants the governor authority to “legally” lock up anyone he wishes for 14 days. The governor had wanted to enjoy such lock-up muscle for at least 30 days.
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