A chieftain of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Delta State and former Ag Managing Director, Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, has
expressed shock over what he described as horrific manhandling of the
immediate past Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, by
operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Pastor Power Aginighan in a press
statement said that to treat Dr. Akpobolokemi who has never refused to
honour an invitation by the EFCC as an unrepentant criminal raise
serious concern about the threat posed to our democracy by
over-zealousness of enforcement agents of government.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari
to distance himself from “this debasement of our humanity” before the
watching world by calling the EFCC to order and order the immediate
release of Dr. Akpobolokemi.
Pastor Power Aginighan who is also the
founding secretary, Ijaw National Congress, advised the EFCC to confront
Akpobolokemi with any new charge that they have against him in court.
“I watched with shock, disbelief and
utter bewilderment the horrific manner Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi,
immediate past Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime and
Administration and Safety Agency was bundled into a bus reportedly by
operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission right within
the hallowed premises of the Federal High Court shortly after the
adjournment of a case against him.
“To treat Dr. Akpobolokemi who has never
refused to honour an invitation by the EFCC as an unrepentant criminal
raises serious concerns about the threat posed to our democracy by
over-zealousness of enforcement agents of government.
“Section 34(a) of the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended states that every
individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and
accordingly, no person shall be subject to torture or to any inhuman or
degrading treatment.
“Also one of the aims and objectives of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “to foster and defend the freedom
of the Press and the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all
Nigerians and the people of the world in general”.
“In the light of the above, I urge Mr.
President to distance himself from this debasement of our humanity
before the watching world by calling the EFCC to order and order the
immediate release of Dr. Akpobolokemi”.
Posts
