Deputy Gov Allegedly Orders Arrest, Detain Of Edo Community Elders

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Four Uzanu community elders are currently in the custody of Edo state police headquarters, 13 days after deputy governor, Philip Shaibu ordered their arrest and detention following lingering boundary dispute between Uzanu and Igiode communities of Etsako-East local government area.

The elders, identified as Emmanuel Ikeme, Peter Ajegba, James Alugbei and Anthony Ademu had represented Uzanu community in a meeting alongside representatives from Igiode community on Monday, March 29th 2021 in the deputy governor’s office.

The deputy governor then ordered the commissioner of police, Philip Ogbadu to detain the elders, apparently due to the absence of the Minister of state for budget and national planning, Clem Agba who hails from Uzanu community, as the senator representing Edo North, Francis Alimikhena and some elders from Igiode were present.

Shaibu who earlier acknowledged “a letter from the honourable minister” to notify him of his absence, apologized to everyone present, before he adjourned the meeting to a yet to be announced date.

“all of them that are from Uzanu should be detained and the clan head of Uzanu should be arrested; the bail that he was granted by your office should be revoked and he should be rearrested”, Shaibu ordered CP Ogbadu

However, more than a week after the deputy governor gave the order, the detained Uzanu community leaders have not been released, nor charged to court, in contrary to Section 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees the right to personal liberty of all Nigerians.

Section 35 (5) of the Constitution provides that an accused person or persons who has been arrested on the allegation of having committed an offence must be charged to court within 48-hours or such longer period as a court might consider reasonable.

According to some members of Uzanu community who spoke to MAWA Foundation in Benin City, Edo state capital, the current situation was politically motivated.

They called for the intervention of acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to enable their kinsmen regain their freedom.

“The deputy governor swore on oathe to defend the Constitution, but that is not what he is doing; instead he is using the police to detain elderly people without charge, without court order”, an indigene of Uzanu community told our correspondent

Recall in February last year, a group under the aegis of Uzanu Progressive Union (UPU) accused governor Godwin Obaseki of ceding their land to Igiode community because Clem Agba refused to support his second term bid.

The neighbouring communities of Igiode, Iviebua and Uneme uzanu have been locked in a land dispute as far back as the late 1960s which took them to court on several occasions until the state government’s intervention that has gone a long way to curb clashes.

Source: West Africa Reporters

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2 thoughts on “Deputy Gov Allegedly Orders Arrest, Detain Of Edo Community Elders

  1. The Deputy Governor of Edo State who happens to be a Former National Law Maker knows the rule of law very well and can ever do anything to thwart its process in Edo State. Besides, the matter is still under close investigation and at the right time, the truth will unravel itself and the guilty party will surely face the wrath of the law. So for now, the Deputy stands innocent until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.

  2. This is what Edo State is getting under the leadership of this inglorious and Luciferous governor and his deputy. The Enogie of Idogbo, a peaceful community in Edo South, has since been in police custody on the orders of the Governor.
    The sons of Lucifer in Edo State are using the state resources against the people because they say they bought their way to the government house.

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