GIDEON Dominics, a relative of a 23-year-old man, Elvis Okafor, has appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to release his cousin, who was arrested and branded a member of the Eastern Security Network and the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Okafor was arrested on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at the Afo Okporo Market in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State and has since been clamped in a police cell in Owerri.
Nationnewslead reported that Okafor left his house to buy foodstuffs in the market for his sick mother before he was allegedly beaten up and arrested alongside two other persons.
Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, Dominics maintained that his cousin was innocent, adding that his continued incarceration amounted to victimisation.
He said, “Who will feel good over the arrest and detention of an innocent man? This is just victimising an innocent person.
“My appeal to the police is that they should release the young man; they should allow him to go. What is the purpose of keeping him there since August 1 till now?”
Nationnewslead learnt that an Imo-based lawyer, Darlington Omekagu, had filed for his bail.
Omekagu, who spoke to our correspondent, wondered why the police would continue to keep Okafor without arraigning him.
“We have filed a bail application in court. We were in court today (Monday), but because of the sit-at-home or don’t sit-at-home issue, those that were supposed to serve the police were not on duty.
“By tomorrow (Tuesday), we will serve the police to produce him in court. On the day of hearing, we expect the police to bring him to court. Whether they (police and Okafor) are in court or not, the matter will go on.
“We have continued to approach the police, but they have been telling us to come today, come tomorrow; they are not ready to release him.
“He was arrested since August 1, 2021 and today is August 23; so, I don’t know the authority that allows them to hold on to somebody for over 20 days without arraignment and without bail,” the lawyer said.
Dominics had raised the alarm after searching for his cousin to no avail.
He later saw his photograph on Facebook after he was paraded alongside some persons with different locally-made guns placed before them.
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