Otagba was arrested on Friday, allegedly on the orders of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contractor Matthew Edevbie.
As more reactions and condemnations continue to trail the arrest of a Delta-based comedian, a group of associates under the umbrella of Isoko Comrades Community Worldwide (ICC-Worldwide), Delta State has demanded the unconditional release of the Isoko-born comedian Ajirioghene Otagba, popularly known as MC 2Kingdom.
Otagba was arrested on Friday, allegedly on the orders of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contractor Matthew Edevbie.
he comrades' community condemned the arrest as 'illegal' and vowed to stage a mass protest against the NDDC contractor, Matthew Edevbie, in Delta State and Abuja if their member is not released unconditionally within the next 48 hours.
On Friday, the Nigeria Police Force arrested and detained Ajirioghene Otagba, known as MC 2Kingdom, over a Facebook video questioning the abandonment of the Isoko 132 KVA substation electricity project.
SaharaReporters learned that a few days ago, Otagba visited the project site in Ozoro, the headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, and made a video speaking about the abandoned project, calling on the contractor, Matthew Edevbie, to return to the site and complete it.
The project, said to have been abandoned 10 years ago, was highlighted in Otagba's video, which he posted on his Facebook timeline.
Following the video's release, SaharaReporters learned that the contractor, Matthew Edevbie, who is an elder brother to former Delta State finance commissioner and 2014 and 2023 PDP governorship aspirant David Edevbie, filed a petition of defamation and cyberstalking against Otagba.
The comedian was subsequently arrested on Friday afternoon in Lagos State and taken to the Force Headquarters Annex, Obalende Lagos, where he is being detained.
Condemning the arrest in a statement titled "Release Comedian AJIRIOGHENE OTAGBA Unconditionally Now!: Isoko Comrades Community (ICC) Condemns The Illegal Arrest and Demands Unconditional Release Of Comedian Ajirioghene Otagba," signed on Sunday by the Isoko Comrades Community Worldwide (ICC-Worldwide) national coordinator, Eric Ewhala, and national secretary, Mitchell Ayovuata, and obtained by SaharaReporters, the arrest was described as illegal and condemnable.
According to the comrades community, the arrest of the comedian was a blatant attempt to silence criticism of the abandoned project by Edevbie. They vowed that if Otagba was not released immediately and unconditionally within the next 48 hours, the contractor should prepare for mass protests against him.
It said, "We strongly condemn the illegal arrest of Comedian Ajirioghene Otagba, popularly known as MC 2Kingdom, by Chief Matthew Edevbie, the contractor handling the abandoned 132 KVA Substation Electricity Project at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. Abandoned for 14yrs now.
“Otagba's arrest is a clear case of intimidation, aimed at silencing his criticism of the abandoned project. We view this as an affront to freedom of speech and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
"We demand that Chief Matthew Edevbie and the authorities immediately and unconditionally release Otagba. Failure to do so will be met with strong resistance, including mass protests and demonstrations.
“We call on the Delta state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the LGA chairman, Hon. Eldr. Godwin Ogorugba, (Chief host to project site), Isoko Development Union (IDU), Worldwide President, Prof. Chris Akpotu, House of Reps member, Ajirioghene Ukodhiko and Senator Joel Onowakpo to intervene promptly and ensure that justice is served.
"We also call on Olorogun David Edevbie, a former Governorship aspirant and brother to Chief Matthew Edevbie, to prevail on his brother to release Comrade Otagba Ajirioghene unconditionally.”
“The ICC stands in solidarity with Otagba and commends him for his bravery in speaking out against the abandoned project. We will not stand idly while our members are intimidated and harassed for exercising their constitutional rights. We urge all well-meaning individuals and organizations to join us in condemning this illegal arrest and demanding Otagba's immediate release." the statement added.
SaharaReporters has learned that the comedian, who was arrested by the IG Monitoring Unit in Lagos State, has been transferred to the Maitama Area Command in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Isoko-born Abuja-based lawyer Anthony Ejumejowo, Principal of Ejumejowo & Associates Chamber, has offered to provide his services to the comedian "pro bono."
"We will visit him on Sunday and by Monday morning commence the process for his legal representation at the Force Headquarters where the IG Monitoring Unit is domiciled," Ejumejowo stated.
The Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) in Delta State condemned the "illegal" arrest of the comedian on Saturday. They warned that if Otagba was not released immediately and unconditionally, there would be "dire consequences."
In 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a final forfeiture of N827.6 million from Matthew Edevbie, the Chief Executive Officer of Flank Power Resources Limited and GMFD Ventures Limited, both linked to contractors with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The forfeiture followed an order from Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, based on an affidavit by an EFCC investigator. The commission requested the forfeiture of the sum to the federal government of Nigeria, tracing the money to contractors’ accounts with Zenith Bank.
The EFCC had secured the interim forfeiture of the money on June 8, 2020, and the final forfeiture was granted by the court on June 29, 2020.