Sequel to the continued detention of the immediate past governor of Plateau State and senator representing Plateau North, Jonah Jang by the EFCC, his aide on Monday threatened that there would be a mass protest in Abuja if the lawmaker was not released immediately.
This threat was made by Jang’s media consultant, Clinton Garuba, while addressing a press conference in Jos, the state capital.
He said, “It is with a deep sense of apprehension that I address you today on the critical subject of the desperation of the APC Government as it relates to the continuous unlawful detention of Senator Jonah David Jang the former Governor of Plateau State and current Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the red chambers of the National Assembly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.”
It would recall that on Monday, May 7, 2018, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, detained Senator Jang after he honoured their invitation in Abuja.
Garuba continued, “Ever since he has been unlawfully kept in their custody in flagrant disregard of the constitution, and abuse of his fundamental human rights as a law abiding citizen, especially when he has never failed to honour their numerous invitations.
“You would also recall, that Senator Jonah Jang issued an ultimatum to Minister of Information Lai Mohammed stating his intention to seek legal redress if the Minister does not expunge the Senator’s name from his infamous looters list released some weeks ago wherein the Senator was said to have looted N12.5billion.
“Shortly after that, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related crimes Commission ICPC, in what was a curiously dramatic and braggadocios awakening swung into action inviting the Senator over the same allegations he has generously given explanations to all along, leading to his eventual detention.
“As a man fondly referred to by many admirers as the Architect of Modern Plateau, for his transformational work in the State, he has consistently availed himself whenever occasion demands to give account of his meritorious service as Governor of Plateau State from 2007-2015, a period characterized by massive infrastructural development and giant feats in the socio-economic lives of Plateau people.
“Definitely, that is not the kind of man that should be detained for whatever reason.
“To detain him for a week today is a crime against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides for a citizen to be charged to court within one day as stated in section 35(5)(a) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
“For a government which has legitimately earned for itself an enviable reputation as a lawbreaker and usurper of the law, we are not surprised at all at the desperate tactics deployed to deal with Senator Jonah Jang.
“For a government which revels in the dehumanization of its citizens and oppression of perceived opponents, we are not in the dark about its penchant for human rights abuses as witnessed in the separate cases of the former NSA and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
“A government renowned for using deodorants in the its fight against corruption within the ranks of its supporters, cronies, and hallelujah choristers, is not justified when it uses insecticides against Senator Jang and those like him who speak truth to power.
“For the avoidance of doubts, the man Jonah David Jang cannot be broken, dispirited, or intimidated.
“His resolve to be strong for his people is intact. His opinion against a government which allows the killing of innocents in the Middle-Belt is unchanged.
“His position against the transfer of ancestral lands from the people of the Middle-Belt to herdsmen for grazing reserves or colonies is emphatic.
“His criticism of the government and its totalitarian tendencies is unstoppable. Therefore, his persecution in the hands of the EFCC will not yield the intended result envisaged when the plot was orchestrated”, he stressed.
“We find it most apt to call on the EFCC to be as law abiding as Senator Jonah Jang by charging him to court where he is ready to defend himself.
“This we believe will save Nigerians the discomfort of following another boring misadventure typical of the shameful theatrics that have pervaded our political landscape in recent times making our country a laughing stock the in world.
“Failure to do so, we shall organize an extraordinarily massive protest in the Federal Capital Territory to demand for the immediate and unconditional release of the Senator,” the media aide warned.
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