A Democracy inclined non-governmental organization; Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has decried the continuous detention under inhumane condition at the Kuje prison Abuja of Mr. Charles Amaefule -the Peoples Democratic Party’s factional chairman in Omuma local government of Rivers State.
The detained politician is an ally of Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who is having political standoff with President Goodluck Jonathan over the 2015 Presidential election.
Another of the suspected political prisoners is the factional state secretary of the PDP, Godwin Leo, also believed to be loyal to the Governor. The Rights group therefore, reiterated call for their immediate release and the quashing of the politically motivated charges slammed on them by the Police hierarchy in a matter not unconnected with the raging political crisis in Rivers state.
HURIWA asked the nation’s police to stay off political infighting or to conduct itself as a neutral arbiter in the entire political scenario since the Nigerian Police Force is a creation of the Constitution for the purpose of maintaining law and order and not to be manipulated to achieve pre-conceived political witch-hunting of political opponents f the Abuja political authority .
In a statement jointly singed by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media officer, Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA also condemned the ignominious roles played by both the office of the Inspector General of police and the Abuja magistrate court which slammed harsh bail condition even when it is clear that the charges are politically-motivated and mere fabrications which may not stand the test of credibility.
The group has therefore threatened to petition the United Nations HUMAN RIGHTS Council if within 48 hours the alleged political prisoners from Rivers State are not granted bail on liberal grounds by the Abuja judiciary.
Besides, the Rights group also tasked the Inspector General of Police on the urgent need to remove the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu who is alleged to have conducted his official duties in a manner that shows partisanship and lack of professionalism in handling the political upheavals in the oil rich Rivers state.
HURIWA said the failure of the Police hierarchy to remove the police commissioner in Rivers state in total disrespect to the directive and resolutions of both the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a manifestation of unprecedented political manipulation of the Nigerian Police Force and the lack of respect for the principle of separation of power recognized by the Nigerian constitution.
HURIWA stated thus; “We view the continued detention of the duo at the Kuje prison under harsh conditions as reprehensible, despicable and outrageous. We are particularly worried that one of these political detainees – Mr. Charles Amaefule has a medical condition which demands close monitoring by his private medical doctor in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and yet he is subjected to this inhumane and an unfortunate situation.
“For Democracy to thrive, the federal government must stop deploying federal might through the instrumentality of federal cohesion of the Nigerian police force to haunt down perceived political opponents. The Nigerian Police Force has clearly taken side with the Abuja political establishment by going after political affiliates of the embattled Rivers state governor – Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.”
“The continued detention of Mr. Charles Amaefule even with the said medical condition is a clear breach of his fundamental human rights to the dignity of his person protected under chapter four of the Nigerian constitution and his right to personal liberty under section 35(1) of the constitution”, HURIWA stated.
