By Anya C. Anya
An international human right organization Amnesty International has called for the unconditional Release of Barrister Emperor Ogbonna, this was contained in a tweet on the Twitter handle of the organization where it was asking that the government of Abia State headed by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu should as a matter of urgency release the Lawyer turned Journalist who has been in DSS custody since March 24th 2020.
According to Amnesty International “His lawyers have expressed concern over the deteriorating state of his health and we are calling on Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu and DSS to immediately and unconditionally release him”
Investigation revealed also that Mr Ogualu Chigozie has on 21st April 2020 written to the Nigerian Bar Association asking them to intervene so that Emperor Ogbonna will not be subjected to further harassment, a copy of the message to NBA read”
Dear NBA,
Please I write as a Member of Amnesty International on the continuous detention of Emperor Ogbonna Gabriel, a member of Nigeria Bar Association, Abia State branch by the Abia State Government for more than a month now without charging him to court.Please let the NBA know that this is not right. If the man has committed any offence, then he should be charged to court.
We must ensure that our democracy is protected.”
Emperor Ogbonna was thereafter charged to court but granted bail by a court of competent jurisdiction but before he could be released, he was immediately rearrested by the Abia State Government through the Department of State Security Service and moved to Abuja where his health has continued to deteriorate.
The Continued detention and incarceration of Emperor Ogbonna has continued to attract wide spread criticism but As at the time of filling in this report , what the Nigerian Bar Association has done to ensure the release of Emperor Ogbonna is yet to be ascertain because he is a member of the Abia State chapter of Nigeria Bar Association.
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