Tension as Police arrest rights activist during press conference
The National Movement for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance (NMDDGG) organized a press conference in Calabar the capital of Cross River State, which took a turn for the worse when police officers apprehended its President, Goddie Akpama.
Akpama was whisked away to the State police Command for interrogation.
Morenews gathered that the activist was compelled to sign an agreement vowing not to hold any protest conferences or processions without proper authorization and was released two hours later after being warned against holding any future conferences on the subject matter.
The press conference which too place at the Chinese Restaurant Event Hall in Calabar was disrupted and journalists send out of the venue by the police.
The incident left journalists and activists in a state of panic, prompting them to discuss the situation in hushed tones.
Prior to his arrest, Akpama had distributed a statement among journalists calling for the suspension and investigation of Bello Matawalle, a former Governor of Zamfara State and the current Minister of State for Defence, by President Bola Tinubu.
This request drew a parallel to the investigation carried out on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, by Tinubu.
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated its intention to reopen the N70 billion case involving Matawalle.
He said, “While we commend the expeditious actions taken against Dr. Betta Edu, our esteemed mentor, in response to allegations totaling N583 million, we are confounded by the continued tenure of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, facing staggering money laundering allegations exceeding N70 billion, without undergoing the requisite investigations.
“This glaring inconsistency raises fundamental questions about the principles of impartiality and justice that should be the bedrock of our nation.
“We urgently call upon President Bola Tinubu to forthwith suspend Bello Matawalle as Minister, and we unequivocally demand the EFCC to reinitiate the investigation into the grave allegations against him.
“The disconcerting reality is that our daughter faces repercussions for a comparatively trivial sum, while Bello Matawalle enjoys unhindered freedom despite facing monumental accusations. This exposes a disturbing pattern of gender bias and selective application of justice against women actively engaged in politics.
“In response, we declare our intention to march from this location to formally submit a petition, emphasizing our insistence on equal treatment before the law.
“We grant the EFCC a stringent two-week ultimatum to recommence investigations into Bello Matawalle’s alleged money laundering activities. Failure to comply will prompt us to rally our counterparts in the South South states, orchestrating a peaceful yet substantial protest at all EFCC offices within the region.
“We ardently believe that the standards of justice and fairness applied to the southern part of Nigeria must be equally applicable to the North. The time has come for our nation to transcend the shackles of sentiment-driven politics, ushering in an era where justice is impartial, and equality prevails. Enough is enough.”
