By Halimah Olamide
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has announced that it has secured the release of Pius I. Awoke Esq of Abakaliki Branch of the association from the Department of State Security (DSS).
This was contained in a statement signed by the NBA’s spokesperson, Akorede Habeeb Lawal.
According to Lawal, the present NBA leadership got to know of the arrest and detention of Mr. Awoke by the DSS in 2021 on an allegation of terrorism a few weeks ago.
Thereby, through the concerted efforts of the NBA leadership, Mr. Awoke was released alongside his cousin, Onyiba Emmanuel Chinonso, a final year student of computer studies at the Ebonyi State University who was arrested and detained with Mr. Awoke since 2021.
Alongside the General Secretary, Adesina Adegbite, 2nd Vice President, Clement Chukwuemeka, the National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal and the Welfare Secretary, Chinyere Obasi, the NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, formally received Mssrs Awoke and Onyibo at the NBA National Secretariat yesterday, 22 June 2024.
In his brief remarks, the NBA President thanked the Chairman of Minna Branch of the NBA, Mr. Mohammed Waziri who was delegated to physically interface with the DSS, and who took custody of Mssrs. Awoke and Onyibo upon their release in Minna on 21 June 2024.
On his part, Mr. Awoke thanked the NBA leadership for being responsible for his release. His words: “I was left with no hope. I only hoped in God. I did not know that the NBA was taking any steps to get me out. The NBA has not just secured the release of a lawyer, but you have saved the life of a lawyer.”
While the NBA is relieved that Mr. Awoke has regained his freedom, the NBA is committed to interrogating the circumstances that led to his arrest and detention for such a long period without arraignment.
The NBA decries incidents of long detention of citizens without charge by law enforcement agencies as a breach of citizens’ fundamental right to fair hearing and personal liberty, and we reiterate our commitment to the protection of these fundamental rights.