From Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s Lawyer, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, has said his client was picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, for allegedly aiding and abetting the proscribed Independent People of Biafra, IPOB.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, Ume claimed he got to know about Abaribe’s offence when the DSS operatives stormed his client’s residence on Friday evening.

He said when the security operatives shortly after arresting Abaribe on Friday stormed his Apo residence to conduct a search, “I specifically requested to know if they had a search warrant and they answered in the affirmative.”

“At that point, they showed me a search warrant signed by one Magistrate Kutigi and on the warrant it was written that my client was arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the proscribed Independent People of Biafra, IPOB.”

According to him, the operatives refused to give him a copy of the search warrant but only went ahead to do a thorough house search from 5pm to 11.30pm during which everything in the house was turned upside down.

Said he: “They claimed to be searching for arms and ammunition at my client’s house with him in attendance but at the end of their search no arm or ammunition or Ghana Must Go Bag was found there.

“What they succeeded in finding in the House were only 23 items including three laptops and phones which were all documented and signed for by the leader of the operatives. They refused to release the laptops one of which contained question paper for an examination to be taken on Monday and the phones, one of which belong to an American citizen”.

He said the security operatives had denied him and his client’s doctor access to him up till Saturday morning adding,”we made efforts for bus to see my client because he needs to have access to his drugs but we were turned back so as we speak he remains incommunicado.”

Ume said he would approach the court “if by Monday his client was not released, to press for the enforcement of his fundamental rights “.

He also said that his client who stood surety for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of outlawed IPOB at an Abuja High Court, is expected to be in court at the next hearing of the case on Tuesday, June 26 “but with this arrest I will have to inform the court about his arrest.”

Ume warned government not to stifle opposition saying, “because I belief my client is being hunted because of his opposing views like other senators like Dino Melaye, Shehu Sani who have been critical of the policies of the present administration.”

GavelSlam:
We are saying the same thing.

IPOB surety who let his ward escape.

OZAOEKPE:


But they killed kanu, so how is that his fault


Useless zone b useless government

GavelSlam:
We are saying the same thing.

IPOB surety who let his ward escape.

gberra:
Nobody killed kanu. Kanu is in a night club in Ghana carousing with prostitutes and eating pizza

-truth burns

QuotaSystem:
They should make an example of him.

Next time nobody would be stupid enough to be collecting Salary monthly as a Nigerian Senator, yet supporting IPOB and standing surety for a secessionist leader who turned out to be a fraudulent coward.

Blue3k2:
Hmm the June 26 trial better not boring like the last few. All they do is ask same repetitive questions then ajourn again. The judge doesnt buy fact army kidnapped or kill him. She won't collect N100m bail money or jail surities. Just declare Kanu wanted already so the case can move on. The Nigerian legal system moves at snail speed.

lovat:
Is it that education is now a luxury in the North? What is really going on with your thought process?

QuotaSystem:


Are you okay?

Is a Nigerian Senator supposed to be collecting Salary and supporting IPOB?

Leave the North and answer the question.

GavelSlam:
We are saying the same thing.

IPOB surety who let his ward escape.

lovat:
IPOB wasn't a proscribed group when he stood as surety so now Use your brain to answer your own question.


I will punish you here with textbook truth

lovat:
Don't resort to insults rather tackle me intellectually.

lovat:
Does it mean that private citizens will now be harrased by security operatives under the guise of false allegations?



Before you reply me, Use your brain to think then give me a reply

QuotaSystem:


Was Nnamdi Kanu a secessionist leader?

If yes, did Senator Iberibe stand surety for him or not?

If yes, should a Nigerian Lawmaker of all people be putting his neck on the line for a secessionist leader?

If your brain still banswered yes to the last question, then sell that textbook because your brains are fried.

lovat:
Don't resort to insults rather tackle me intellectually.

lordkush:
and what us wrong in being a sessionist leader ?


na by force to like nigeria ?

but nobody force Cownu to pick race reach Ghana

gidgiddy:
Abaribe was arrested for aiding and abetting IPOB? I will keep an open mind. But I hope the authorities know what they are doing because if this turns out to be nothing, it will be seen as a full assault on democracy by the Buhari administration on a Senator who has been critical of of this administration.

GavelSlam:
We are saying the same thing.

IPOB surety who let his ward escape.

SarkinYarki:


That's not what the article says abeg ? His arrest had nothing to do with his surety of Kanu...they say they suspect he is providing support to Ipob

Support cannot include assisting with escape?

QuotaSystem:


No be by force, but nobody force Cownu to pick race reach Ghana.