The police have arrested a Nigerian lawyer, Joseph Odok, over allegation of ‘terrorism’.

He has been in police detention in Calabar, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria, for four days now.

Mr Odok, a native of the state, is an avowed critic of Governor Ben Ayade.

He was arrested by two police officers on Thursday in Abuja and taken to Calabar by road, his wife, Cecelia, told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening.

“The police said they have been trailing him for about two weeks; they have been tracking his phone line,” she said.

She said Mr Ayade was behind her husband’s arrest and detention. “Somebody warned my husband on Facebook that they will soon give him the same treatment they are giving to Agba Jalingo,” she said.

Mr Jalingo, a journalist and publisher of CrossRiverWatch, an online newspaper with focus on Cross River State, is in prison in Calabar, charged with treason, over a report about an alleged diversion of N500 million by the Cross River governor.

“They (Cross River government) have a hand in my husband’s arrest,” Mrs Odok insisted.

Mr Odok’s counsel, Oliver Osang, corroborated the claim made by the wife to the detained lawyer.

“From the way the police put it, it is coming from the government of Cross River State,” Mr Osang said of his client’s arrest.

“As at yesterday (Saturday) when I was at the police station, they said it is terrorism. It’s frivolous. You know, they want to look for anything possible to charge him,” he told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening.

“They are yet to provide any evidence. He was still writing his statement at the police station.”

Mr Odok fled Cross River State two years ago after an attempt was made on his life, and has been in Abuja.

His lawyer said the police were yet to state whether the ‘terrorism’ he is accused of took place in Calabar or Abuja.

Dennis Ibe, an inspector of police who is investigating Mr Odok’s case, declined to comment on the case when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him.

Mr Odok’s Facebook page is contains critical remarks on Mr Ayade.

READ ALSO: POLICE ARREST THREE ‘CLERICS’ FOR ALLEGED FRAUD, RAPE

In one of his posts on the social media site in September, the lawyer described the governor as a “joker”.

“Ayade keep getting it wrong with lofty projects. Why talk of Spaghetti flyover when you have not maintained or completed a single road project from your first administration.

“A man that can’t complete a single road keeps talking Super High Way, Deep Sea Port and now Spaghetti flyover. This joke is getting out of hands,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Ayade’s spokesperson, Christian Ita, denied the governor’s involvement in the arrest and detention of Mr Odok.

“It’s wrong for people to describe as the governor’s critic, anyone arrested by the police. The governor does not know anything about his arrest, the police are in a better position to tell you why they have arrested him,” Mr Ita told PREMIUM TIMES.

Paul Ifere, another critic of Mr Ayade’s administration who was similarly arrested and detained last year by the police for criticising Mr Ayade, condemned the incarceration of Mr Odok.

Mr Ifere said the governor was clamping down on his critics because of his intolerance to criticisms and opposing views.

“If you criticise Ayade, he will come after you, that’s what he has been doing,” Mr Ifere said.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/355126-police-arrest-another-critic-of-gov-ayade-accuse-him-of-terrorism.html

Mr Ayade’s spokesperson, Christian Ita, denied the governor’s involvement in the arrest and detention of Mr Odok.

It's funny how journalists who are critical of the state moonlight as terrorists. Im sure you guys have no clue about why the police are after this guy.

“The police said they have been trailing him for about two weeks; they have been tracking his phone line,” she said.

The police can went through the trouble of wire tapping this guy. If ony the cared about all the victims of kidnapping that much. Let's see if thid guys trial will be interesting. This guy probably wont get the press Sowore gets sadly.

Na wa ooooo! Using terrorism to detain critics

Hmmmm

They are all birds of the same feather. Power drunk leaders

Ben Ayade is a crazy despot, one thing he fails to remember is that his tenure is very short, life indeed is very short. All despots shall reap the rewards of their madness here on earth and their kids shall inherit the ignominy

But I use to think that this man was better than this.


Is he not a professor again?


Why thought is, when they were in school, they would have boasted that they will do better when they become this or that. Now can they see how stupid they are??

RZArecta2:
Ben Ayade is a crazy despot, one thing he fails to remember is that his tenure is very short, life indeed is very short. All despots shall reap the rewards of their madness here on earth and their kids shall inherit the ignominy

He will still beg after his tenure like Ajumobi begged Ayefele. It's not their fault, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

olu77:


He will still beg after his tenure like Ajumobi begged Ayefele. It's not their fault, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

God bless you, you’ve said it all

iPhoneRepairer:
They are all birds of the same feather. Power drunk leaders

Since everybody prefer "bird of thesame feather" to "birds of a feather" this idiom should just be changed to what we all prefer in the dictionaries.

aolawale025:
Na wa ooooo! Using terrorism to detain critics

Buhari has reintroduced military rule into Nigeria. Abuse of power is the order of the day.

TheGoodJoe:
Criticism has become terrorism.

that is the result of having someone like Buhari. Now laws will not be obeyed, rights will be abused and so many vices

It beats me hollow that no is talking about the evil man in Cross River. The short man is so intolerant of divergent opinion, a disgrace to the academics. No press statement from Kola Ologbodiyon, condemning the evil action of Ayade, let El Rufai do same, hell would be let loose. Our problem is neither PDP nor APC, we are our own problem.

This is so wrong... Democracy allows criticism, the citizens have the freedom to demonstrate against bad governance..

deltateam:


Buhari has reintroduced military rule into Nigeria. Abuse of power is the order of the day.

Are you naturally slow or learning to be slow? Hypocrite! We are talking about the evil short man in Cross River State, Ben Ayade, not Buhari.

Terrorism is the only charge you can use to detain anyone indefinitely.
Buhari has taught them how to apply military force in democracy

LKO:
It beats me hollow that no is talking about the evil man in Cross River. The short man is so intolerant of divergent opinion, a disgrace to the academics. No press statement from Kola Ologbodiyon, condemning the evil action of Ayade, let El Rufai do same, hell would be let loose. Our problem is neither PDP nor APC, we are our own problem.

Post stories about him if you notice juicy ones. Im just sad the people elect limp wrist yes men to state houses of assembly. They're the people who should be restraining these executives but they're only interested in getting paychecks and frivolous allowances.

How do you tackle this Governor without tackling his boss?...

"Pikin wey him mama send message dey use leg break door"

LKO:


Are you naturally slow or learning to be slow? Hypocrite! We are talking about the evil short man in Cross River State, Ben Ayade, not Buhari.

You mean this story does not relate to what the man in Abuja is holding Sowore for?

They are learning from their role model in Aso rock

Wow this the latest trend if you don't agree with govt you automatically become a terrorist where is our democracy, what is this country becoming, Help us GOD

And some people want State Police??

Okay....all those advocates of 'true federalisim'..see how your state police would be used ....by the governor to do and undo.

This is happening under FEDERAL police. Now ....imagine if this was Cross River State Police?

No matter how hard we try, the problem is Nigerians have no concept of human rights for all. That is why Abuja is jailing people like Sowore, and Ayade is jailing people like this guy. And unitl we change our attitude, restructuring would just be putting old wrtetched wine into new bottles...it's still the same old , tasteless wine!

Dividend of Democracy

LKO:


Are you naturally slow or learning to be slow? Hypocrite! We are talking about the evil short man in Cross River State, Ben Ayade, not Buhari.

You are dumb if you have not been seeing the wanton abuse of power. Its a ripple effect but you are too brain dead to know it.

Dictator Buhari has thought his cohort that freedom after speech (criticism) is not guaranteed.

They are all following Buhari’s footsteps. Shame on Nigeria for even at 59, she’s is still an incurable fool. SMH

don't know what's wrong with our leaders....before campaign they promise heaven buh after election everything becomes a hogwash...seems there's a demon possessing these guys at the government house

iPhoneRepairer:
They are all birds of the same feather. Power drunk leaders

Here they come. Typical comment of pdp supporters when one of their own bleeps up.

If you do some background checks, youd find this poster is either a supporter or sympathizer of pdp.

IgweBUIKE1:
don't know what's wrong with our leaders....before campaign they promise heaven buh after election everything becomes a hogwash...seems there's a demon possessing these guys at the government house

Not OUR leaders, call him what he is, dont middle the water, it is a PDP GOVERNOR THAT IS INVOLVED!!

Una too dey wan show say una wise.

Shame onto him... I just don't like that man