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| MOTHER OF MURDERED VICTIMS DESPERATELY SEEKING JUSTICE |
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| THESE ARE THE TWO DEAD BODIES. THE THIRD IS YET TO BE RELEASED BY POLICE |
Tears ran down my cheek as I watched Helen Ukpabio weep seriously over denial of justice by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command Ikot Akpan Abia. It is now three months since a combined team of the Akwa Ibom State Security Service and the Nigerian Police Force tricked the brothers of Helen Ukapbio - Charles, Emmanuel and Joseph to come for negotiation on how to be paid compensation on the Dam Project in Nkari.
As the boys went, they were rounded up by the killer squad of the State Security Service (SSS) and men of Ikot Akpan Abia Police. The boys were tortured and carried to the village. According to Benjamin’s account to Bassey Inuaeyen, the father was not in the house. So the Police only killed the boys without getting their father to kill.
Ever since, the woman of God has tried everything possible to get the Police to investigate the matter to no avail. On the 5th of June 2012, Barrister Victor Ukutt was invited by Zone 6 Police Headquarters Calabar, Cross River State, as they are aware of the case. They showed Barrister Ukutt the reference number and file number used in referring the matter to Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
The lawyer left for Akwa Ibom State. The first point of call was the Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Gabriel Ashong’s Office. Barrister Ukutt introduced himself to Mr. Gabriel Ashong who is a (close) friend to the two suspects – Chief Bassey Inuaeyen and Senator Alloysius Etok. The Barrister introduced himself as the one handling the case of the three brothers murdered. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Ashong replied the Barrister and said “and so?” The Barrister then said well, I want to know the extent of your investigation with this matter. In his response, Mr. Gabriel Ashong said “for you to do what?” and the following dialogue ensued.
Barrister Ukutt: I am the lawyer for the family.
Deputy Police Commissioner – Gabriel Ashong: Are you the Investigating officer?
Barrister Ukutt: I have not said so.
Deputy Police Commissioner – Gabriel Ashong: Then what?
Barrister Ukutt: Am I or the family not supposed to know?
Deputy Police Commissioner – Gabriel Ashong: Now get out of my office.
Barrister Ukutt: What?
Deputy Police Commissioner – Gabriel Ashong: Out
The Barrister got up and left his office. Not satisfied, Barrister Ukutt headed for the Commissioner’s Office – Mr. Umar Gwardabe. While waiting to see the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Ashong came around and saw Ukutt, he screamed at him querying why he has to see the Commissioner of Police despite asking him to go.
Ukutt insisted that he was not satisfied and of course, he was not even attended to, so he must see the Commissioner. Mr. Gabriel Ashong made some noise there but Ukutt answered him not a word.
It must be recalled that these three boys were killed on the 25th of March 2012. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Ashong, was the Acting Commissioner of Police. Mr. Umar Gwardabe the current Commissioner had not yet resumed. Mr. Gabriel Ashong’s attitude is quite suspicious, thus confirming the friendship to the two principal suspects – Senator Alloysius Etok and Chief Bassey Inuaeyen who had once contested for both governorship and senatorial seat, but yielded for settlement and consequently stepped down.
Noel Ikem Nduka, on the other hand, is well known to Mr. Gabriel Ashong the Deputy Commissioner of the State Police Command – Ikot Akpan Abia – Uyo – Akwa Ibom State.
It is because of the above, that Mr. Gabriel Ashong does not even hide his involvement in the killing of the three brothers. Barrister Ukutt finally met the Commissioner, and the Commissioner called for the files. Ukutt showed the Commissioner the reference number from the Assistant Inspector General’s Office. The Commissioner said he had long minuted it for action, and that of Inspector General of Police too. All the files minuted landed on the table of Mr. Gabriel Ashong, the Deputy Commissioner of Police who left the files unattended.
The Commissioner of Police then sent for the Deputy Commissioner of Police – Mr. Ashong and he was directed to take immediate action. The case was then transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. This brought some kind of relieve to Barrister Ukutt who at this point departed for Lagos and asked his junior in Chambers to handle.
The following day, the lawyer went to the Akwa Ibom State Police Headquarters, but could not trace where the file was sent to. It was later discovered that the matter was referred to the assistant commissioner of police - criminal investigation department (CID)
Mr. Gabriel Ashong had minuted on the file ‘’keep in view’’ instead of directing the (CID) for actions to commence immediately. Another road block to the case.
Mr. Gabriel Ashong had delayed this case for so long. Inspite of the Commissioner of Police directives on the 24th and 26th May 2012 and at other times as the report concerning the matter comes. Mr. Gabriel Ashong acted as if he is the Commissioner of Police. He is very rude, arrogant and is full of threat. The case has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department but they could not act on the case because the Deputy Commissioner’s directives to ‘’keep in view’’ as he boasted that “nothing can happen and nothing will happen”.
When Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio heard this, on the eve of 7th June, she put a call to Mr. Gabriel Ashong. She introduced herself as Helen Ukpabio, the sister of the three brothers killed. This is how the dialogue went:
Ukpabio: Good evening sir. My name is Helen Ukpabio
Ashong: e – nhe.
Ukpabio: Sorry sir, I am calling you in connection with my three brothers who were killed.
Ashong: e – nhe
Ukpabio: I am told the case was given to the Criminal Investigation Department
Ashong: (Shouting) Who told you and how did you get my number?
Ukpabio: Excuse me please. I want to know why you minuted that a case of this nature should be kept in view.
Ashong: (screaming more) Who told you? I say who told you? Look, stop that nonsense, tomorrow, you will show me in my office where I minuted ‘keep in view’ nonsense (cuts his phone off and put it in busy).
Another road block. Mr. Gabriel Ashong is ready to do anything to stall any investigation of this case. Everybody is afraid to voice out. The spell of Mr. Gabriel Ashong is on all his officers. His best friend Alloysius Etok who is also battling with his involvement in the pension bribery case is still carrying himself as if nothing is happening. One wonders why people with this trait should be in leadership. They have no human feelings, no conscience and no sympathy for the people they are leading. How many roads will Mr. Gabriel Ashong the Deputy Commissioner of Police block?
Mr. Gabriel Ashong is not supposed to occupy the office he is occupying. He feels nobody should make any enquiry or find out anything about the bodies. Can this be true of a man who may be promoted to become a Commissioner of Police or even Inspector General of Police in future? If Mr. Gabriel Ashong is only a Deputy Commissioner of Police and his wings are too tough to be pulled out, what happens when he becomes a Commissioner or Inspector General of Police? Then Nigeria will be in trouble. The whole world is watching Mr .Gabriel Ashong.
Due to all these frustrations, the Lady Apostle decided to go by herself on the 8th June 2012 to Akwa Ibom State Police Command – Ikot Akpan Abia. On getting to Uyo, she picked some human rights activists who have been monitoring this case from the inception. Many other groups joined her to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command of Uyo.
She headed for the Commissioner’s Office but the Commissioner refused to see her. She wept sore before all the mobile policemen guarding the Commissioner’s Office. She wept and pleaded for just one minute to see the Commissioner but was turned down on grounds that the following day was a Saturday which is Local Government election. These policemen were not friendly at all. She was later referred to the Assistant Commissioner Mr. Abiodun Odude and that was another nightmare.
Mr. Abiodun Odude had nothing to tell her. As far as Mr. Abiodun odude was concerned, the woman of God is a mere civilian who he cannot talk to or say anything to her. She is not his Deputy Commissioner of Police whom he directly reports to. Ukpabio now very frustrated, asked Mr. Abiodun Odude, so what will the oppressed do? It appears the whole system is against me. What have I done wrong to this State to be treated this way, she cried. Mr. Abiodun Odude told her that he is a graduate of thirty years, and a serving police for twenty years. This added more to her frustrations. She asked – if the Commissioner of Police Mr. Umar Gwardabe knew that you have nothing to offer, why was I pushed to you? I am not leaving this office until you tell me about the case. She wept aloud. Mr. Abiodun Odude now said, ‘’madam I say, I cannot say anything, come and see my Deputy Commissioner of Police next week’’.
It was at this time that the lawyer told the Assistant Commissioner to tell them the extent they have gone on the matter. The Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Odude will not. Lady Apostle asked him a question, “supposing they were your children who were murdered by the Police, and you came to the Police, the Police keeps tossing you up and down, what will you do?” He did not answer that question but rather said, he has written his reports and sent to the Inspector General of Police. Which report? the Lady Apostle asked, Mr. Abiodun Odude said on this case, we have written our reports and sent to the Inspector General in Abuja.
How could Police have written a report on a matter like this without any testimony or statement obtained from the complainant, the eye witnesses, the mother whose children were murdered before her? How could Mr. Abiodun Odude and Mr. Gabriel Ashong be so unfair to this family? This is not right. Whatever report they would have written, is to their own advantage and the advantages of their political allies and friends.
Chief Esessien Akpabio who could have been killed if he was found on that day was not also considered by Chief Bassey Inuaeyen who claimed to be the Community Leader and Senator Alloysius Etok who is representing Chief Esessien Akpabio’s Senatorial District. What a world? This case is a naked case as names have been mentioned right from the onset, yet no arrests, no invitations. Senator Alloysius Etok, Chief Bassey Inuaeyen, Peter Inuaeyen, Noel Nduka, Engr. Bassey Udo Nya Bassey, Alloysius Etok’s three white men, their messengers – Toppa and Benjamin Christopher Akpan Otu. There is no masquerade here. Suspects have been mentioned, why is arrest so difficult?
PANEL OF ENQUIRY SET UP BY THE AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT
Fellow Nigerians this is very funny. Even though the family of these three murdered boys have not been officially informed yet, they only heard on the radio that the Akwa Ibom State Government has set up this panel headed by the Deputy Governor – a political friend of Bassey Inuaeyen. A retired bossom friend of Bassey Inuaeyen is also a member of the panel. One then wonders why a panel instead of the Akwa Ibom State Government instructing the police to make arrests and prosecute. The panel is a “kangaroo” with the intention to rubbish this murder case.
We want all to call on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to call for arrest and prosecution for the panel has no meaning in this case. The State Attorney should brief the government effectively so that justice will prevail. Besides, panels in Nigeria never see light. It is always a diversional therapy. There are too many sides to this case but the truth remains that the boys were killed on account of the Dam’s compensation which is to be paid. The boys have 80% of the land acquired. It was their cash crops – cocoa, kola nuts, and other economic trees – that were destroyed vastly. Their palm trees and cocoa cannot be replaced. Some other interests have come up, business is going to boom, contractors, percentage divisions, all make up for why the brothers were murdered and framed up by the police.
The panel is a “kangaroo” panel. It is not accepted by the family of the deceased. Let the Police arrest and prosecute and not play passive roles. It is a well known fact that many murder cases have been swept under the carpet but this case shall not be swept under the carpet. It is very wrong to set a panel instead of ordering for arrests, investigations and prosecution.
The Lady Apostle did on the same day after a traumatic encounter with the Police, visit the Akwa Ibom State Security Service (SSS) where she demanded to see Noel Nduka – the man who murdered her three brothers........that report will come later.
Ifiok Francis,
as instructed by Henry Akpabio
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