By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Contrary to reports in some online media, (not Sundiata Post), the Federal lawmaker resenting Abia South senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has not been released from detention, Sundiata Post authoritatively reports.
Recall that the Department of State Services, DSS, arrested the outspoken critic of the Buhari administration on Friday in Abuja without disclosing reasons for his arrest.
The Senator’s aide, Mr Uchenna Awom confirmed that contrary to earlier reports, Mr Abaribe is still in detention and his mobile phone remains switched off.
Abaribe’s arrest have been widely criticised by a cross section of Nigerians and bodies including but not limited to; the Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze-Ndi–Igbo, Peoples Democratic Party and Nigerians residing in Canada under the aegies of ICCA/Umunna, South-East and South-South Network (SESSNet) with all demanding the immediate release of the vibrant Abia Senator.
According to the counsel to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chukwuma Nwachukwu-Umeh (SAN), Senator Abaribe is detained for alleged aiding and supporting a proscribed IPOB simple because he is standing as surety for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who hasn’t been seen or heard in public since the Army invaded his home last year.
He said that standing as surety is a necessary and legal requirement under the constitution since the every accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a court of law.
Recall also that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was arrested less than twenty four hours after he had complained about the “illegal addition” of N30 billion into the budget of power.
“The amount never passed through the senate power committee. Where did such huge sum of N30 billion come from? Let the budget office and other relevant bodies conduct self-examination. Such self-examination will go a long way to clear gray areas.”
The senator had said he was unhappy that the budget allocation for the Enugu airport terminal was reduced by N500 million from the 2 billion that was first submitted by the executive.
According to him, “no right-thinking Igbo man would support any cut on allocation for projects in the south-east region”.
