LG chair alleges torture over Jonathan’s billboard

Chairman of Omuma local government caretaker committee, Rivers state, Honourable Emeka Wogu, has threatened legal action against the Rivers state police command for alleged arresting and unlawfully detaining him over destruction of the billboards of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Wogu condemned his arrest, saying he was only subjected to the shabby treatment because of his loyalty to Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

He said his reputation and that of his family had been dented by the act, as the police only acted on orders issued to them without any evidence indicting him of allegedly destroying the billboards.

“No petition was shown to me when I met with the police commissioner. All that the commissioner told me was that he got a report that I ordered that the president’s banner be shot (verbally) and in the case file I saw treasonable felony,” he said.

“I want to say that this plan was orchestrated to remove me or to intimidate the party, to harass me or cow me, or to remove me from the scene for some time. I want to say here that this is totally unacceptable. I am consulting my lawyers to see if there is anything we can do to seek redress about the way I was so humiliated.”

Narrating his experience in detention, Wogu wondered the impression that those who witnessed the incident would have about him.

“They handcuffed me, tortured me and dragged me into their vehicle; and they carried me off to old GRA Police Station and bundled me into the cell with common criminals. I was later transferred to SARS around 2am and locke up in the midst of over 150 armed robbers.

“That cell was too full that the inmates couldn’t even find a place to lie down. The heat and the smell coming from the cell were horrible. “It has also impacted on my person because I will not go round to explain to the residence of the estate where I live that I was treated like that because of political reasons.

“My residents who used to respect me as an honorable person saw me in handcuffs like a common criminal. All those are irreparable damage to my person and I think it is something I should seek redress for. This thing happened in the presence of my little children. For long, the memory will linger in their minds. I feel so terribly humiliated.”

David Iyofor, chief press secretary to GovernorAmaechi condemned the arrest and warned against the intimidation of his supporters.

“The act is unjust and should not be encouraged in any way,” he said.

“Why would they be subjected to unnecessary and unjust harassment, intimidation and torture just for supporting the governor? The police should desist from harassing supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in the state.”