In an interaction with Primetime News, human rights lawyer Barr. Mba Ukweni SAN raised serious allegations against Gov. Otu’s administration, specifically targeting the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh and the State Security Adviser (SSA) Rtd Major General Okoi Obono. Ukweni accused them of using unprofessional methods to press false charges against Dr. Oscar Ofuka, a former aide to Gov. Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control, who is currently in a coma after collapsing in court.
Primetime: We heard that one of your clients, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, a former Special Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control in Cross River state, is still in a coma after he slumped in court and hit his head on the ground. Is that correct?
SAN: It’s very sad. I have always maintained as a lawyer that I cannot be against the prosecution of any person who is suspected of having committed an offense. But in all circumstances, we must always act in accordance with what the law says. Our law presumes any suspect to be innocent until the court pronounces their guilt. This presupposes that a suspect should be treated with the highest level of decency and respect because you may eventually find out that the suspect is innocent.
While not wanting to comment on what is before the court on the basis of sub-judice, I found out that he was arrested in his hometown, with army personnel allegedly brought in to intimidate people on the farm. He was taken to the army station at Edor Barracks in Ikom local government of Cross River state. Initially, they said he was a fake soldier, but after investigation, they found out he was a real soldier. The army man was among those who were allottees of the government cocoa estate. After thorough investigation, the army man was released because he wasn’t a fake soldier.
The issues are before the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja. When I met with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone six police station in Calabar, he reliably told me that the issues are not in his hands and have nothing to do with the cocoa. Some of the matters are before the AIG.
The people disturbing are government officials. I accused the Secretary to State Government (SSG) and the State Security Adviser (SSA) of tormenting innocent people. We pray that nothing happens to Dr. Ofuka because his blood would be on them if he dies today. As Special Adviser to the governor on Cocoa Development and Control, he achieved a lot. A new government cannot simply deny agreements made by the previous government.
The former attorney general wrote those agreements, and they were duly registered with receipts paid into government revenue accounts. Charging people who signed these agreements with forgery is irresponsible. Government officials cannot disregard agreements made by their predecessors and bring frivolous charges.
The charges before the high court are not faring well. Even the complainants couldn’t come to testify. They made a petition to the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) but couldn’t defend it. Instead of facing the truth about the fight between rival groups, the government is charging innocent people with forgery. This approach of witch-hunting must stop. Government should not operate this way. We pray that Dr. Ofuka recovers from the coma. He is not afraid of standing trial.
Primetime: Was it traditional for them to serve you people with the charge they were taking to court?
SAN: Yes, it is traditional to serve him with the charge or information. That is what takes him to the court. Without serving the charge, you cannot compel the attendance of the defendant or accused person.
Primetime: Did they not know that serving the accused with the charge was necessary?
SAN: The charges served on us were for forgery, saying they forged cocoa allocation agreements duly registered by the attorney general. Money was paid into government accounts, and then they were charged with forgery. It’s fraudulent for the government to collect money and then charge people for it. The money was used to solve government problems, not pocketed by Oscar Ofuka or his people.
Primetime: What is your message to those having issues with the former aide to Gov. Ben Ayade, Dr. Oscar Ofuka?
SAN: My message to them is to remember tomorrow. Today it’s Oscar Ofuka, tomorrow it might be them. They will not be in office forever. Things should be done properly.
Primetime: But people are saying that Ofuka is faking the coma. I have gotten several calls from some persons saying that Ofuka’s coma is fake.
SAN: Faking what? Pretending for how many days? Today is the third day, and you say it’s fake? Except they are surprised that the doctors haven’t pronounced him dead. God forbid!
Primetime: In Nigeria, coma is not strange because we have seen circumstances where ex-top government officials who misappropriated public funds feigned coma. What makes you think Ofuka’s case is different?
SAN: The incident happened three days ago. He slumped in court, probably because of what he had passed through. You cannot take a man who is up to sixty years old to four different cells of both the military and the police in two days, perhaps without food, and expect him to withstand the stress. Even in a coma, there are policemen surrounding his hospital bed. He is still in police custody. Oscar was prepared to stand trial. He is a courageous person and does not pretend. We pray nothing happens to him and that he recovers.
Gov. Otu’s Secretary to State Government (SSG) Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh and the state Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Okoi Obono, have both debunked the allegations and exonerated themselves of any wrongdoing.
