Posted by By CHRISTOPHER OJI on
A week after a former Abia State governorship aspirant, Chief Mathew Uwakwe was clamped into detention without trial, Obigbo, an Ndigbo Social Cultural organisation has called for his immediate release.
A week after a former Abia State governorship aspirant, Chief Mathew Uwakwe was clamped into detention without trial, Obigbo, an Ndigbo Social Cultural organisation has called for his immediate release.
Uwakwe, who is also the national co-ordinator of Chinese Business Community in Nigeria and a chieftain of ruling PDP was arrested last Monday in Ikeja, shortly after a meeting with the Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu on the latter's presidential ambition.
Addressing journalists in Ikeja at the weekend, National Publicity Secretary of Obigbo, Mr Gideon Oji Agwu said the continued detention of Uwakwe without a complainant and an official charge on him was illegal and an abuse of his fundamental right.
Flanked by wife of the detainee, Mrs J. Uwakwe, the secretary who is also a media assistant to Governor Kalu said 'but for divine intervention, Uwakwe would have been eliminated by security agents just as the six Igbo traders at Apo Village Abuja by paid detectives."
Appealing to the First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo who is the grand patron of the Chinese Business Community in Nigeria to intervene in the matter, Agwu said, 'The Police told us that Uwakwe was detained for being in possession of the pictures of the First Lady. According to him, Uwakwe took those pictures with the First Lady during her investiture as grandmatron at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, adding that some of the pictures were taken at the commissioning of Ojota shopping complex and donation of materials to her Child Care Trust which Uwakwe co-ordinated.
Agwu said the alleged picture in question were not a personal picture of the First Lady but group photograph showing some dignitaries that graced the occasion. He, however, said the picture found in his possession was for record purpose and not meant to demean Mrs Obasanjo.
He said, 'every effort to convince the Police to disclose the offence or the identity of the complainant or petition in the case has proved abortive. The family is in sorrow and the aged mother confused."
However, Daily Sun investigation revealed that the Lagos State Police boss, Mr Ade Ajakaiye was confused in the matter as he replied on phone 'what was the charge, who is the complainant? I have just learnt of the matter and I don't have full details of the case,' I will confirm from above" he said.
However, at Abuja, an aide of acting Inspector-General of Police Mr Sunday Ehindero said 'oga is discussing with the First Lady over the matter to find whether it was true that Uwakwe knows her."