*THANK YOU NIGERIANS*
I AM FINALLY OUT, STRONGER AND DETERMINED TO FIGHT ON AND SO RESOLUTE THAT EVEN WITH A GUN ON MY HEAD I CANNOT ABANDON THE STRUGGLE TO WAKE UP INCAPACITATED LEADERS AND THEIR POLITICAL ALLELUIA BOYS TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR FLUSH THEM OUT FOR A NEW DAWN.
Comrades and countrymen
On Thursday 18th June, 2020 at about 5:30pm I was abducted in a violent manner by men of the Nigeria Police Force as I stepped out of the Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC where I had attended a meeting to regularize the Edo and Ondo governorship primaries schedule of the Action Peoples Party, a political Party of which I am Chairman.
Following my abduction, I was shown a petition authored and engineered by the lawless Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and the clerk of the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution of the House where the Police was directed to arrest me following comments I made about the shady attempt to pass the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, comments that I strongly and I repeat strongly stand on for which even in international and local fora we have been commended for standing against the plot of using of our legislature to pursue sinister objectives.
However before my arrest and abduction which had no warrant of arrest, I had challenged the setting up of a kangaroo ad hoc Committee by the Speaker against whom I made the comments as the law forbids him to be a judge in his own case and the conduct of the Henry Nwawuba Committee which sat and purported to have concluded its investigations without ever inviting me and the Committee sat only once in public and ran away on the day of my so called appearance only to go to Gbajabiamila bedroom to take what they said is evidence from him. The treacherous conduct of Henry Nwawuba who chaired the kangaroo ad hoc committee and other opposition lawmakers like Ndudi Elumelu, Igariwe and Goroko who have turned into double agents for the crumbling APC Government in the House led by a dishonest Speaker will be discussed in full after meeting with our alliance partners. I also sought to protect my fundamental rights which were likely to be breached by the unlawful conduct of Speaker Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House, the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Services.
The both Courts granted certain orders including restraining the Police in clear terms from arresting or detaining me in any manner or give effect to the very resolution of the House which had been forwarded to the Police Inspector General. Despite that these orders were served on the House and the Police, they both in flagrant disobedience authored the petition and arrested me.
When I was asked to make my cautionary statement by the Police I wrote that there was a valid and subsisting order of court which I would not aid them to violate as their act of arresting me was unlawful and illegal. The court had barred Femi and his kangaroo panel from sitting but he ignored, the court barred him from making any resolution but he intimidated and misled the House to make a resolution against me, the court barred him from sending the report to Police and SSS and for an arrest or investigation not be made based on the documents but they disobeyed the court. Despite all the above, they summarily threw me into the overcrowded cell in Maitama Police Station despite the COVID-19 dangers for a non-existing offense.
My lawyers obtained a further order of the FCT High Court which ordered my unconditional release from the illegal detention of the Police. Also the Abuja Chief Magistrate Court before whom the Police arraigned me granted me bail the conditions of which I have perfected and here we are.
At this point, I want to thank the eminent jurists of the Federal High Court and FCT High Court Justices O. A. Musa as well as Taiwo O. Taiwo who had since recused himself from the case due to the intimidation and harassment from the Speaker; a very condemnable act for a head of a legislative House but what do u expert from a man who shamelessly defrauded a dying woman. These judges were bold in the face of a barrage of intimidation orchestrated by the Speaker to assert the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Accolades also go to the Chief Magistrate who stood firm and rejected the application by the Police to continue to keep me in illegal detention. I appreciate with caution the police for not allowing pressure from Femi to commit the outdated assault of daring the court and abducting me again.
Special thanks to my team of lawyers. I never lost faith. I was in high spirits because I was very sure you would do your best to enforce the law. I also appreciate all other lawyer who volunteered their services to me free of charge. You all stood up to tyranny in Court yesterday and you won. You are truly heroes.
To the Nigeria media, I applaud you all. You saw the illegality and refused to keep quiet despite the harsh conditions under which you operate. I have nothing but commendations for the fourth estate of the realm. We shall continue to partner until we reclaim Nigeria and restore it to the path of progress and prosperity.
I am also very grateful to all eminent Nigerians who made statements calling on the Inspector General of Police to obey the law. To us, obedience to the rule of law and constitutionality is non-negotiable. Nigeria is a democracy and no man is above the law.
Special mention goes to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON, Dr. Bukola Saraki CFR, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Shehu Sani, Comrade Timi Frank, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, the Revolutionary fighter Omoleye Sowore, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, Alloy Ejimako, the Peoples Democratic Party, leadership of CUPP, Secretary General of CNPP, my colleague National Chairmen, the IPAC leadership led by Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, the courageous incoming NBA President Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Nigeria Bar Association (Capital Bar and Unity Bar), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and the entire members of the Open Bar Initiative, the National Youth Council of Nigeria and all ethnic and religious youth groups, National Association of Nigeria Students, Civil Society Organizations, members of the House of Representatives especially the peoples legitimate minority caucus led by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, family, friends, associates and many more who for want of space I would have added your names but I will be calling in the days ahead. For your sacrifices and belief in our course and the rule of law, we shall not let you down.
I hereby seize this opportunity to restate my commitment to the struggle for the liberation of Nigeria. This illegal detention is one of the numerous benefits of being a soldier of truth and apostle of the rule of law. We were not cowed neither did we negotiate nor trade off our right to free speech as our oppressors desired. We have come out stronger and more determined. If only the adversary knew that the groundswell of support and show of love would have prepared us better, they would not have gone this route. We would continue to speak for good governance, rule of law and constitutionality.
It is on that note that I wish to inform you of the formal commencement of public interest actions to ensure accountability and uphold good leadership both at the executive and legislature. We are coming out hotter and harder and the iron bars and chains of the oppressors cannot stop us. The insecurity, leadership incapacitation, a country on auto pilot, a Parliament that has been turned into a Parliamentary baby sitting home for the executive because of the tainted leadership of one man called Femi Gbajabiamila etc shall be our focus.
I AM FINALLY OUT, STRONGER AND DETERMINED TO FIGHT ON AND SO RESOLUTE THAT EVEN WITH A GUN ON my HEAD I CANNOT ABANDON THE STRUGGLE TO WAKE UP INCAPACITATED LEADERS AND THEIR POLITICAL ALLELUIA BOYS TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. Dear Nigerians, you stood with us and for your sake our voices will rise higher this time until the oppressors and their comfort zones of evil are demolished and a people centered leadership elected at all levels.
Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere
Opposition Coalition( CUPP )Spokesperson
