There is outrage in the land over the kidnap of former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Okey Wali (SAN).

Wali was kidnapped at about 9pm on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

NBA, in a statement by its president Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said: “ The Nigerian Bar Association has just received shocking news that the 26th President, Okey Wali (SAN) was on Saturday 11th October, 2014 at about 9pm kidnapped by unknown persons in Port Harcourt.

“Wali is a man of peace who has not only contributed immensely to the enthronement of rule of law and protection of human rights, but also to the development of our Nation.

“It is, therefore, saddening that he should become a kidnap victim. This sad event is yet another reminder of the state of insecurity in which all Nigerians live.

“The NBA calls on the Federal Government to step up efforts to fulfill its primary constitutional role of providing for the welfare and security of all Nigerians.

“We passionately appeal to his abductors for his immediate and safe release to his family.”

There is no demand for ransom yet.

The men of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Dan Bature, immediately swung into action and recovered Wali’s car, which was abandonned at the Ozuoba Junction on NTA-Choba Road in Port Harcourt, while still on trail of the kidnappers.

It was learnt that the kidnappers trailed Wali, a Rivers indigene, to Ozuoba Junction, stopped in front of his vehicle, shot into the air many times to scare other motorists and passersby in the densely-populated Ikwerre community and dragged him out of his car into their steaming vehicle and sped off to Choba River, beside UNIPORT, where he was whisked away in a speed boat to an unknown destination.

Rivers police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, who confirmed the kidnap of the ex-NBA President by  telephone, assured that efforts were being made to ensure his early release unhurt, while expressing optimism that the gunmen would soon be apprehended and prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people.

Ahmad said: “Okey Wali was kidnapped while going home, sometime in the early hours of last night. As soon as the police got the information of his abduction, we swung into action. His vehicle was recovered at Ozuoba. We are still on their trail, with a view of rescuing him safely and possible apprehension of his abductors.”

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) yesterday added its voice to the call on security agencies to secure Wali’s release.

The group’s Vice President, Emeka Obegolu said, in a statement, that PALU received the news of Wali’s kidnap “with a sense of foreboding.”

It urged security agencies in the country “to ensure the immediate release of this committed African Bar leader and his safe return to his family.

“We call on his abductors to spare Okey Wali SAN from harm as his voice has remained constant against all the evils besieging Nigeria and the African continent.  We join his family and the NBA in prayers for his safe homecoming,” PALU said.

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Monday Ubani have urged the federal government and the Rivers state government not leave any stone unturned in securing the release of the former of the association , Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) from the custody of the kidnappers.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Falana said all hands must be on deck in combating the menace of abduction, armed robbery, terrorism and other violent crimes plaguing the society adding     “these crimes should be fought and defeated like the Ebola virus. Apart from mobilizing security forces to end these dangerous crimes the government should fight illiteracy and unemployment in the country”.

He advised the leadership of the NBA to go beyond the usual issuance of a press statement in demanding for the immediate release of the senior lawyer from the custody of the kidnappers. He recalled that when Kayode Ajulo and Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN were kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory and Edo state respectively, he called on the NBA “to embark on a symbolic protest with a view to compelling the federal government to halt the obscene commercialization in the liberty of unarmed Nigerians and foreigners alike by human traffickers. But the Wali-led NBA ignored my call”.

He noted that since then,  hundreds of people have been kidnapped in Rivers, Bayelsa and other states of the Federation. “In the north east zone women and girls have been seized and subjected to serial rape by their abductors. While the fundamental rights of abducted persons to life, liberty, dignity and freedom of movement were being violated by criminal gangs the NBA felt totally unperturbed.        “Even the barbaric assassination of lawyers and the primitive abduction of over 270 Chibok girls in Borno state did not worry the NBA. As it is now crystal clear that no citizen is safe in any part of the country, lawyers can no longer maintain questionable silence in the face of the from massive violations of the human rights of the people by lawless individuals”, he stated.

The erudite lawyer stated, “having abdicated it’s responsibility of securing the life and property of every citizen the Federal Government has left the families and friends of the victims of abductions to pay ransom to secure their release from custody. Sadly, some of the kidnapped persons lost their lives. Henceforth, the NBA must institute actions praying the courts to compel the Federal Government to refund any ransom paid for the release of any abducted person. More importantly, the NBA should embark on urgent measures designed to compel the Federal Government to actualize section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of a Nigeria which stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”, he said.

Ubani , in his reaction, described as highly condemnable the abduction of the immediate past President of the association, Okey Wali (SAN).

Ubani wondered why Wali, who according to him is not a politician, could be kidnapped.

“Wali’s abduction is highly condemnable. I plead for his release. The abductors should spare the country and legal profession the agony  of any pain and loss. The man is not a politician and does not have the kind of money they may be demanding. They should release him unconditionally and promptly too”, he pleaded.

To the first female NBA President, Dame Prisicilia Kuye, Wali’s abduction is a terrible thing which the government must stop.

She called on the government to put in place stiffer punishment for kidnappers and ensure the laws are fully implemented.

“The problem in this country is that we do not implement laws. If an example could be set with three or four people, the menace of kidnapping will stop.

“What has Wali done? Why kidnap him? This is also a threat to the judicial system especially if one recalls the Ekiti State saga, where a serving judge was beaten and his cloth torn.

“With the way things are going, there is every possibility of anarchy. I urge the Inspector General of Police to look into these issues and get the suspects apprehended.

“Also, I plead with Wali’s abductors to release him. The government should also create jobs for unemployed youths in order to reduce the menace,” she said.

Former Attorney ýGeneral and Commissioner of Justice, Edo State, Dr. Ossgie Obayuwana, called on Nigerians to engage in civil disobedience in order to compel the government to meet its basic responsibility of securing lives and properties.

He described Nigeria as a failed state running on auto-pilot.

“I call on the Nigerian people to engage in civil disobedience ý until the state can assure us, her citizens of the protection of our lives and properties.

“The state has disarmed us and still not doing anything to provide protection for us; how can such a state expect us to continue to be loyal to it and pay taxes?

“We should defer such a state until they realise that this matter is serious. When Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle was kidnapped, did that arouse the importance to put in place an effective police force? It did not. They just negotiated and got him released.

“This is a country where we had a judge kidnapped and his finger chopped off as a bargaining chip.

“The whole situation is evidence of a failed state because it shows the state has failed in its fundamental obligation of protecting lives and properties.

“When you call ýfor help from the police, there is no assurance you will get protection. Nigeria is on auto-pilot. You cannot be talking about democracy when its basics have been abused with impunity.

“Our police and military are overwhelmed. I am not surprised it is Wali because it could have been anybody at anytime. The only people who enjoy some measure of protection are those in political offices. Perhaps, the executive but they tooo are not save because their relations are not spared.

“It is a fundamental challenge and the question all these poses to the Nigerian people is what to do to get the state to meet its obligation to the people? There is need for  a new revolution to get the state to meet its fundamental obligations.

“People should revolt to get the government to meet its responsibility to the citizens as foundation to pay taxes,” he said.

Constitutional lawyer Norrison Quakers (SAN)ý said Wali’s abduction  is a pointer to the security challenge in the nation.

“How do we explain the kidnapping of a thorough bred professional. If a former President of an association such as the NBA can be kidnapped at gun point, who then is safe?

“Government should immediately address the multifarious security issues, so that professionals can criss-cross the nation contributing their quota to societal development and encourage external investment.

“The spate of abduction is too rampant and frequent. The constitutional responsibility of government in terms of security must not only be seen to be done but must in fact be done, said Quakers.