Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s lawyer,
Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), yesterday, gave insight into why the lawmaker was
arrested on Friday by men of the Department of State Security (DSS).
Ume disclosed that Abaribe, representing Abia South, was arrested and detained
by the DSS operatives because of allegations that he was supporting, aiding and
sponsoring a proscribed body, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. According
to the lawyer, the security operatives raided and searched every nook and
cranny of Abaribe’s house in company of the senator, who was brought from the
headquarters of the DSS for a period of six hours, from 5- 11pm, before he was
taken back, adding that the security outfit had denied the senator access to
his lawyer, family members and his doctor.
He disclosed that the arrest was
contained in a search warrant, dated June 2, 2018, which directed DSS
operatives who searched Abaribe’s house to “focus and search for arms and ammunition
and any other incriminating document, while the alleged crime was aiding and
supporting a proscribed body i.e. IPOB.” Ume said: “Of all the 27 items seized
and taken away, none could be all they wanted to see in terms of arms and
ammunition or stored bags of Ghana Must Go for sponsoring the said IPOB. “But,
unfortunately, two of the 27 items include two handsets of two USA citizens
found in the home. “One of the laptops taken include that of an educationist
containing examination questions slated to be set for students on June 25,
2018.
“All pleas for the questions to be copied was refused.” The lawyer, who
noted that he was worried at the turn of events, especially when the leader of
IPOB Nnamdi Kanu was to appear in court on October 2017, but in September, his
house was brutally shut down, said, “Senator Abaribe, the surety to Nnamadi
Kanu, is to appear in court on June 26, 2018, but, on June 22, Senator Abaribe
was arrested and detained incommunicado”.
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