The call was made in a statement released by the human rights group, stating that other civil society organisations (CSOs) including Amnesty International and the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) had joined the struggle to ensure the release of Aghogho.
The Take-It-Back Movement has again called for the release of the group’s coordinator in Delta State, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.
The call was made in a statement released by the human rights group, stating that other civil society organisations (CSOs) including Amnesty International and the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) had joined the struggle to ensure the release of Aghogho.
Aghogho’s trial is fixed for March 28, 2023.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Warri Division, had fixed March 28, 2023, to hear the Notice Of Preliminary Objection filed on February 2, 2023, by the lawyers of Aghogho to dismiss the frivolous cyberstalking charges filed against Delta Take It Back Coordinator, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.
The activist had been at loggerheads with the police in the state after he protested against the lack of police vehicles for an investigation involving a child trafficking case.
He specifically accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Benin, Lawan Tanko Jimeta, of compromising an ongoing child trafficking investigation involving top Delta State government officials, police officers, and a retired chief judge among others.
In a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman, the activist alleged that Jimeta had tried everything possible to frustrate investigations into the case, urging the IGP to caution the AIG “if he the IGP is not part of the deal as officers in the zone boast about.”
He was arrested on June 6, 2022 by the police force.
He was accused of offences bordering on cyberstalking and posting of information claimed to be false on Facebook by the police, which was said to contravene the provisions of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
However, SaharaReporters learnt that his lawyer, Kunle Edun Esq had filed an application after receiving instruction from the Leadership of Take It Back-Nigeria to challenge the validity of the charge sheet.
When the case was called by the clerk of the court on October 27, 2022, Justice Abang asked the defendant who appeared in person how much time it would take to conclude the cross-examination.
The statement read, “Immediately, Aghogho said, ‘like 30 minutes to confront the PW1 with several documents.’ However, Justice Abang said that the court was exhausted and adjourned to 24th of November, 2022 for Aghogho to conclude his cross-examination of PW1.
“The Attorney General of the Federation has given legal advice, via a letter dated September 20, 2022, referenced DPPA/AGHOGHO/673/22 and addressed to Aghogho, through Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, head of SGBV Response/Gender Unit calling for the dismissal of the frivolous cyberstalking charges.”
In December 2022, SaharaReporters reported how Aghogho petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja and the Secretary of the Administration of Criminal Justice monitoring Committee (ACJMC) in Abuja on how P. N. Etumudon Esq allegedly impersonated a lawyer from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation in filing the cyberstalking charges against Aghogho.
It alleged that this was done “by tempering with the preparedness of the court, fair hearing and has prompted the court to adjourn the case from November 24 to March 28, 2023 (a period of five months) for further cross-examination of the PW1, Joshua Omorere without the issuance of hearing notice and upon realization of the false trial and continuously adjourned the hearing of the bail Application of the Defendant issued with hearing notice by the court dated 27/10/2022…”
It further read, "In November 2022, the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation had demanded an explanation from law enforcement agencies including the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficked in - Person (NAPTIP), Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi on the role her agency played in the allegations raised against Delta Government officials by Aghogho and subsequently called for re-investigation of the case.
“The Inspector-General of Police has been asked to transfer the case file on the re-investigation of the case from the Gender Unit of the FCT Police Command to the Anti-Human Trafficking Department of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters Abuja in the interest of fairness, transparency and Justice.
“The re-investigation as ordered by the Attorney-General of the Federation is expected to deal with the allegation of child trafficking levelled against the office of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, the conduct and actions of CP Ali Mohammed Ari in allegedly indulging in child trafficking in Delta State, along with several other police officers serving in Delta State, the office of the Chief Judge of Delta State, a retired Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro who was accused of falsifying several National Judicial Council reports between 2018 and 2019, falsified NJC's reports, an action that violates section 153 of the 1999 constitution(as amended), all in a bid to conceal the missing Juvenile Courts constituted in Delta State Judiciary in 1991 and 50 family courts (children's court) constituted in the Delta State Judiciary in 2013 with records of thousands of children allegedly stolen through the Delta State Judiciary.
“This happened while he was the Chief Judge of Delta State and to shield himself and other suspected child traffickers who are predominantly staff members of the Delta State Judiciary from prosecution as alleged by Comrade Aghogho.
“Aghogho has openly in several press statements, accused the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Delta State Police Command, DSP. Bright Edafe of indicting his Commissioner of Police when he via a press statement dated 11/5/2022 also misdirected himself and in a show of shame during a press briefing at Asaba upheld and promoted child trafficking as part of the functions of the Nigeria Police Force when he affirmed that the Delta State Police Command had been transferring exploited children to the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs for adoption without any legal authority to back up his claim from the Child's Rights Act 2003.”
SaharaReporters on August 25, 2022, reported that Aghogho petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami over an alleged child trafficking investigation involving Delta State Government officials, police officers, and a retired chief judge among others including DCP Olajide Kolawole, ACP Abubakar Argungu, CSP Fidelis Odunna, SP Orawemen Vinscent, CSP Dennis C. Eboh, Mrs Flora Alanta, CSP Ejiroghene Adegor, Inspector Ntada Innocent, DSP Irabor Sunday, DSP Justina Bariwei, DSP Bright Edafe, Joshua Omorere, Fred Ugheni, Mrs Oghenekevwe Agas and Inspector Rachael Obi.
Others include Emmanel Daubryl Esq, Ahmed Gambo Saleh Esq, Ese Gams Owe Esq, Harrison Attiene Esq, P.N Etumudon Esq, J.A. Amahi Esq, A.L. Aikpokpo Marthins(Mrs), Isaiah Bozimo Esq, Efe Jesin Odogwu(Mrs), Timothy Agbaragu Esq, Justices: Emmanuel Z. Dolo , Marshal Umukoro (retired), I.T Mohammed(retired) and Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali.
In a petition signed by Aghogho and obtained by SaharaReporters, the activist alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), State Security Service (SSS), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficked-In Person (NAPTIP) and the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola had the facts of the case but kept mute by “promoting injustice against children in Delta State.”
He added that the Delta State Commissioner for Justice and Director of Public Prosecution had similar facts but decided to shield the culprits and prosecute him on trumped-up charges instead.