Lawyer Seeks Release Of Okuama Community Leaders

Human rights advocate and lawyer Mr Frank Tietie has called for the release of Arthur Ekpekpo, a professor of Physics at Delta State University and president-general of the Okuama Community/Ewu Development Union.

He also called for the release of those detained with Ekpekpo, including Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Amalaka and Mabel Owhemu, allegedly arrested and detained by military authorities since 2024 following the clash in the Okuama and Okoloba communities, in which several soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed.

Tietie, at a press briefing in Abuja, stated that the allegation of killing soldiers of the Nigerian Army posed a grave danger; nevertheless, the law being the very foundation of society, must take its course or else, injustice would prevail.

According to him, James Achovwuko Oghoroko, one of the detainees, was reported to have died in military custody, while Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Treasurer of Okuama Community, was reportedly ill and was released on health grounds; noting that it is regrettable that the clash between Okwuama and Okolobo communities in Delta State led to the death of several soldiers with a reprisal attack from the army.

He said two years after that incident, “I am compelled, as a lawyer, human rights advocate, civil society leader, and media personality, to call urgent national attention to the continued detention of leaders and members of the Okuama community in Delta State without charge or trial since 2024.

“This situation raises grave constitutional and moral concerns for a country that prides itself on adherence to the rule of law.”

He noted that the continued detention of these individuals without arraignment before a competent court of law constitutes a flagrant violation of their constitutional right to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, “Let it be abundantly clear that while I do not, and will never, condone criminality under any guise, including that of community leadership, there can be no justification whatsoever for the indefinite detention of any Nigerian citizen on mere suspicion, association, or leadership status.

“Indeed, the allegation of killing soldiers of the Nigerian Army is grave; nevertheless, the law, being the very foundation of society, must take its course or else, injustice would prevail.

If there is credible evidence linking any of these detainees to the tragic killing of soldiers in the Okuama–Okoloba crisis, then the proper and lawful course of action is simple and well established”.

He continued by saying, “Charge them to court and allow due process to take its course. Anything short of this is not justice but clear arbitrariness which must be condemned”.

Tietie said the government cannot, on the one hand, claim fidelity to the rule of law and, on the other hand, act in a manner that suggests that certain citizens are invisible, expendable, or undeserving of legal protection.