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CIVIL RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (CRIDO)

PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2002

UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF MASSOB MEMBERS

We condemn the continued detention of 20 MASSOB Activists at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Owerri, Imo State.

The said
20 MASSOB Activists are drawn from two sets of unlawful and illegal arrest.

Rev. Linus Iweanya, Mr. Amuche Stanley Iheruene, Mr. Matthew Uwanu, Mr. Amuche Okpara, Patrick Asogwa and Mr. Nelson Akwada were arrested at the St. Michael Spiritual Church of Christ, Okigwe, Imo State on August 8, 2002, while Chief. Vincent Ugochukwu and messrs Philip Ikerionwu, Basil Iheme, Albert Ejiobi, Michael Adionye, Isaac Uja, Lambert Anyanwu, Godwin Njoku, Gabriel Ukwe, Tobias Nkemjika, Barnabas Muonye, Alexander Okeke, Pascal Ejiogu and Chegharia Odunze were arrested at Owerri on August 10, 2002.

On
Tuesday August 13,2002, the said MASSOB Activists were transferred to the Wuse Central Divisional Police Station, Abuja, and were detained there (Abuja) until Friday September 6, 2002. They were returned back to Owerri on September 6, 2002, and further detained at the said CID Owerri till date.

The unlawful arrest, continued detention and torture of these Activists contravene Section 34 (Right to Human dignity), 35 (Right to Personal Liberty) and 36 (Right to fair hearing) and Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the
MASSOB Activists from unlawful detention or in the alternative; they should be Charged before a Court of competent jurisdiction.

The
Director of CRIDO, Uche Okwukwu Esq. visited the said MASSOB Activists in detention on Monday September 23, 2002 at Owerri, and the same said Monday September 23, 2002, Uche Okwukwu filed a petition on behalf of the 20 MASSOB Activists and in the petition he demanded that the 20 Activists should be released from unlawful detention or be Charged to Court immediately.

Meanwhile the
State Security Services (SSS) have commenced a manhunt for Uche Okwukwu, Legal Attorney for the innocent 20 MASSOB Activists. The reasons must not be unconnected with the recent meeting of the Ethnic Groups in the Southern parts of Nigeria on Monday September 9, 2002, where Uche Okwukwu did not only play a prominent role but also read the communiqué stating the position of the groups.

Below is the table of their Names, Ages, Occupation, Villages, Towns, and States.

S/N

NAMES

AGE

OCCUPATION

VILLAGE

TOWN

STATE

1.

Rev. Linus Iweanya

40 Years

Clergy

Isuikwuato

Isuikwuato

Abia

2.

Mr. Isaac Ujah

39 Years

Driver

Amafor

Ohaji-Egbema

Imo

3.

Mr. Michael Adionye

40 Years

Factory worker

Isiekenesi

Ideato-South

Imo

4.

Mr. Godwin Njoku

55 Years

Contractor

Owo Amakaohia

Ikeduru

Imo

5.

Mr. Barnabas Monye

58 Years

Watch night

Ohii

Owerri

Imo

6.

Mr. Alexander Okeke

33 Years

Trader

Nkerehi

Orumba

Anambra

7.

Mr. Pascal Ejiogu

45 Years

Machine Operator

Uba

Ifekala Mbaitoli

Imo

8.

Mr. Cheghara Odunze

57 Years

Mason

Obosima

Ohaji

Imo

9.

Mr. Stanley Iherueme

35 Years

Conductor

Isuikwuato

Isuikwuato

Abia

10.

Mr. Amuche Okpara

40 Years

Trader

Isiekenesi

Ideato-South

Imo

11.

Mr. Patrick Asogwa

30 Years

Conductor

Nsukka

Nsukka

Enugu

12.

Mr. Philip Ikerionwu

50 Years

Businessman

Ukpo

Nnewi South

Anambra

13.

Mr. Basil Iheme

35 Years

Motor Cyclist

Eziama

Orodo

Imo

14.

Mr. Gabriel Ukwe

65 Years

Farmer

Eziama

Orodo

Imo

15.

Mr. Lambert Anyanwu

42 Years

Trader

Ogwa

Ogwa

Imo

16.

Chief. Vincent Ugochukwu

49 Years

Businessman

Ihite

Dunu

Anambra

17.

Mr. Matthew Uwanu

30 Years

Student

Isuikwuato

Isuikwuato

Abia

18.

Mr. Nelson Akwada

35 Years

Builder

Umuahia

Umuahia

Abia

19.

Mr. Tobias Nkemjika

70 Years

Mason

Ifeakala

Mbaitoli

Imo

20.

Mr. Albert Ejiobi

45 Years

Mason

Umundugba

Isu

Imo

SIGN:
NwaMazi. Obinna Okoro
Head, Democracy and Good Governance Bureau (CRIDO).


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