RULAAC Demands Probe Of Police Secret Arraignment Of Man, Daughters In Abia
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a Civil Society Organisation has accused the Police Command in Abia of secretly arraigning one Mr Sunday Chikadibia, 63 and his three daughters after holding them incommunicado for over three weeks.
RULAAC in a Statement issued on Sunday said the Abia State Police Command through their activities had shown a disturbing pattern of abuse and mpunity marked by arbitrary arrest, denial of access, and secret arraignment of persons
The Statement was signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of RULAAC.
The Statement said Chikadibia, a shoe manufacturer and his daughters were violently abducted in April from their home in Alaukwu village, Osisioma Ngwa LGA and were denied access to lawyers or relatives throughout their detention.
RULAAC said it was only after pressure from the media and civil society organisations that they were they quietly remanded at Aba Correctional Centre without informing their family or allowing legal representation.
It said the family members were suddenly charged with capital offenses including conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, noting that they were as suspicious as the silence that surrounded their arrest.
“The secretive nature of the arraignment and lack of due process raise grave concerns about the transparency and integrity of the justice system.
“The police initially denied knowledge of their whereabouts, despite witness accounts and evidence placing them at the notorious Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Umuahia.
“These charges are entirely alien to the family, particularly given that one of the daughters was only home for Easter holidays.
“We demand urgent intervention from the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission. Nigerians must not remain silent as such acts erode the very foundation of ju
stice,” he said.
