The chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, NBA-SPIDEL, Dr Monday Ubani, has handed down a 14-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to either charge Gloria Okolie to court or grant her unconditional release.
Okolie is a female student arrested and detained by the police while on her way to write her JAMB examinations.
“Our attention has been drawn to the long and illegal detention of one Gloria Okolie by the Nigerian police authorities for over 67 days for her friendship with an alleged IPOB member.
“It is further alleged that while she is under the police detention in Owerri, she has been used as a slave (beast of burden) and terribly abused, tortured by the officers in charge of her detention.
“While these allegations are yet to be verified as no lawyer or relation had had access to her, we are of the candid opinion that there are many things wrong with this detention which we consider patently illegal, wickedly and appalling,” he said.
He said it was shocking that the IGP issued a press release conceding that the girl was in police custody for over 67 days.
Ubani said the claim by the police that Okolie was providing information, drugs and weapons to the said IPOB members did not justify their long detention of the young woman.
“The truth of the matter is that if the IGP thinks that this explanation will justify this long and illegal detention of this young lady, it has further exposed the incompetence and illegality with which the security agencies carry out investigations in Nigeria.
“Assuming but not conceding that these “grave allegations” are true, does this by any stretch of imagination empower any security agency any right to detain a citizen for such length of time, thereby depriving her the constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of movement, rights of dignity of person and right of fair trial within a reasonable time as provided under 1999 constitution? Nay, her guaranteed rights of presumption of innocence until proven guilty has been destroyed permanently by this lengthy detention without any charge or arraignment,” Ubani added.
He said the NBA has consistently advised security agencies to discard primitive and unscientific means of investigating crimes in order to avoid embarrassment.
He said it was wrong to arrest an individual and then start sourcing for evidence for prosecution.
“It is not only archaic but patently criminal for police officers to indulge in this manner of primitive investigation of crime in this modern time.
“We are therefore giving the police authorities 14 days from today to charge Gloria Okolie to court if she has committed any known offence or release her unconditionally.
“We shall commence the enforcement of her fundamental rights which has been criminally violated if this request is not adhered to as usual by the police authorities. They are deemed adequately advised,” Ubani said.
