…Commends CSOs In Edo & Delta For Launching “The Bail Is Free Campaign In Asaba”
By Williams Adesoji
Abuja, Nigeria – Prominent Nigerian social critic and human rights activist, Comrade Igbotako Nowinta, has challenged President Bola Tinubu, to compel the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately give directives to make bail a truly free affair in all the police stations across Nigeria.
Comrade Nowinta, an international conflict resolution expert, who doubles as the Executive Director, Nigeria Good Governance Research Centre (NGGRC), made this call on Monday in a press release titled: “Enough Of Deception About ‘Bail Is Free’ Within The Nigeria Policing System: President Tinubu Must Act Now”, which he gave to journalists in Abuja.
Meanwhile, in a bold step toward the protection and promotion of human rights in Nigeria, Civil Society activists in Edo/ Delta, on Monday successfully secured the unconditional release of two innocent citizens, Umukoro Henry and Godfrey Jonah.
The duo had been wrongfully arrested and detained on allegations of murder, by Officers of the Oghara Police Division, and subsequently transferred to the Delta State Police Command Headquarters, Asaba.
The agitation to free them was led by Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice (ANEEJ).
According to the full text of the press release:
“We use this medium to stand shoulder to shoulder with the human rights advocacy campaign titled “BAIL IS FREE”, which was officially launched in Asaba, Delta State capital, a few days ago; and which was led by Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice (ANEEJ).
“Even as we commend profusely, all the civil society activists that participated in the historic launching of the “Bail Is Free Campaign”, it is a matter of facts that what we see happening within the police stations in Nigeria is utterly disgusting, barbaric and inhuman, where innocent citizens are being subjected to a situation worse than slavery.
“We at the Nigeria Good Governance Research Centre (NGGRC), are worried that the issue of bail is a national torment, which has become a ticket pass to instant wealth by some police officers in Nigeria, who are now monsters that wears the cloak of law enforcement agencies.
“Using the instrumentality of ‘bail is free’, these unscrupulous police officers, such that played out glaringly in Asaba, Delta State, have transformed into dynamites killing our people systematically and remorsefully.
“It is sad to note that the foundation of democracy is crumbling here, as the cabal currently in control is doing everything possible to move in the direction of one party state, while the vulnerable are constantly under severe attack and intimidation from some rogue police officers, using bail as a destructive weapon to impoverish and incapacitate innocent law abiding citizens.
“Indeed, the bail issue has become one of the humiliating savagery happening under our noses; it lingers in echoes of excruciating pains and oppression; this is one of the deepest pictures of man’s inhumanity to man in our clime. Simply put, the police system has become a scourge to countless Nigerians, via the evil negative application of the mechanism of bail.
“Therefore, we call on President Bola Tinubu to act now without delay! This government must commit itself to truth, justice, transparency and national development, by ordering the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately issue a directive to all police formations in the country cum put in place a crack monitoring team, to stop the gigantic sleaze being practiced against our people.
“This is the time to stop oppression, repression and exploitation of innocent Nigerians by some criminal police officers. Bail should be made a truly free affair in our country!”
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