Reports have emerged indicating that Mr. Yabaneth Steve Hassan, the newly assigned Commissioner of Police in Benue State, is alleged to have ordered the detention of Mr. Uchenna Mojekwu, a Civil Rights Activist and the Secretary of Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN).
The incident stems from a petition lodged against Dr. Dennis Akura, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In February 2024, GICN, led by Mr. Mojekwu, submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) outlining allegations of the government misappropriating over N20bn from the Benue local government accounts through Akura, backed up with evidence from letters signed by various Council Chairmen and Directors.
Furthermore, they forwarded a copy of the petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the House Committee on Public Petitions, urging the institutions to investigate the allegations.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions summoned Dr. Dennis Akura on 27th February 2024 to address the missing N20bn from the Federal Allocations to the 23 Local Government Areas in Benue State, but the invitation was declined.
Despite the EFCC transferring the petition to the Makurdi Zonal Office and requesting the group’s lawyer to adopt it, Dr. Akura sought the intervention of the Police in Benue State to apprehend the petitioners.
Amidst the ongoing developments, the group’s Chairman, Barr. Edward Omaga, expressed concerns stating that Mr. Uchenna Mojekwu was taken into custody following an invitation from the Police to address allegations leveled against him by Dr. Akura. Omaga condemned the move, asserting that it was a blatant attempt to obstruct the forthcoming investigations by EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.
He announced plans for protests in Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to highlight the group’s commitment to combating corruption and protest against the alleged misuse of the Police to hinder their efforts.
The group has called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and safeguard Mr. Mojekwu’s fundamental rights from the actions of Dr. Akura and the Benue State government.
When approached for comments, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO SP Anene Swuese, stated that she was unaware of the reported detention.
She mentioned, “I personally don’t have that information at the moment. The command didn’t communicate with me regarding this issue,” she informed a NewsNow correspondent over the phone.