An Abuja based lawyer, Barr. Ichire Okim has charged comptroller general, Nigeria Immigration Service, Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola to call personnel of the service in Cross River State to desist forth with from harrasing and intimidating Effi community traditional rulers, in Ikom LGA of the state whom he said are his clients.
Okim gave the charge yesterday during a telephone conversation with LEADERSHIP in Ikom local government area of Cross River State.
He described the numerous invitations extended to Effi community monarchs by authority of Immigration Service in Cross River State as unnecessary stressing that the invitations were not in tanderm with the traditions and norms of Effi people.
A statement from Ichire Okim and Co Chambers dated August 24, titled, Re: “National Security Risk Urgent Action Required, Suspicious Entry into Effi Community Forest and the Cross River South Forest Reserve without and Diplomatic and Security Clearance”, Okim frowns at the invitations of the monarchs.
“For Christ sake why are they tossing the the traditional rulers around like a football? These are my clients. I can’t sit down fold my arms and watch them toss them around like that!
“Chinese nationals only visited our community and said that they want something from our community, whether we agree or not, is that an issue?
“In the first instance, my clients, Effi community traditional rulers had not even entered into any agreement with the Chinese nationals, unfortunately this has become a big issue.
“Let me state clearly here that it’s because of an inciting and fault-finding letter written by one Odey Oyama to the Immigration authority that is generating so much dust like this.” Okim stated.