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24th June, 2009
The Director General,
State Security Services,
S.S.S Headquarters,
Asokoro Drive,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR- GENERAL
OF SSS OVER THE UNLAWFUL KIDNAP AND
CONTINUOUS DETENTION OF FRANCIS CHINONSO
UMEH BY MEN AND OFFICERS OF THE STATE
SECURITY SERVICES AT THE INSTANCE OF
IGWE OGBERURU, A TRADITIONAL RULER IN
ORLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF
IMO
STATE
We are solicitors acting for and on
behalf of Nicodemus Umeh’s Family
(hereinafter referred to as “our
client”). We have our client’s
instruction to write.
Our brief reveals that on the 18th
day of May 2009, Mr. Francis Chinonso
Umeh, a member of our client, was
traveling from Aboh village to Orlu town
in Imo State in a vehicle with one Mr
Christian Emerole, when suddenly his car
was stopped by a group later identified
as “the New face of Imo Vigilante Group”
who barricaded his way with heavy road
blocks. The men abducted Mr. Francis and
took him to an unknown destination, Mr.
Christian Emerole was allowed to go. Two
members of this group were identified as
Mr. Emeka Nnawo and Mr. Sunday Ughala.
Upon further investigation, our client
discovered that Mr. Francis was actually
arrested at the instance of Igwe
Ogberuru after Igwe Ogberuru was told by
a voodoo medical practitioner (JUJU
MAN) that Mr. Francis was the person
who kidnapped one Chief Kelvin Nwosu of
Aboh Ihiteowerri in Orlu Local
Government Area. The kidnap of Chief
Kelvin Nwosu was alleged to have taken
place on the 17th day of May,
2009, less than 24 hours before Mr.
Francis was abducted. Our brief
disclosed that Mr. Francis was
immediately, after his abduction,
paraded before the Igwe where he was
interrogated and tortured ruthlessly. He
was later handed over to some members of
the State Security Services believed to
be the Igwe’s Special accomplices with
the instruction that they should ‘waste’
him. In return for a job well done, each
of the members of the unscrupulous
vigilante group were rewarded with the
sum of N100,000.00.
On the 21st day of May, 2009
while Mr. Francis was still in
detention, our client learnt the fact
that Chief Kelvin Nwosu who was
allegedly kidnapped was released after
the payment of ransom in the sum of
N1,000,000 to his kidnappers. One may be
compelled to ask who was this ransom
paid to and who released Chief Kelvin
Nwosu? The SSS have refused to answer
this question.
Mr. Nicodemus Umeh, the head of the
family, approached the SSS office in
Owerri to see his son, Mr. Francis, but
he was denied access. Our client has
made several attempts to reach Mr.
Francis to no avail. However an officer
of the SSS later informed our client
that Mr. Francis has since been
transferred to the SSS Headquarters in
Abuja.
Glad that a step may have be taken
towards unraveling the truth of the
matter, by reason of the transfer of the
case to
Abuja, our client approached us to
inquire of the real allegation against
Mr. Francis and to possibly confirm
whether he is still alive.
Mr. Francis has been in the custody of
the SSS for over one month without
anybody, including his counsel being
allowed any access to him.
Our lawyers approached the SSS
headquarters in
Abuja
on the 23rd day of June 2009
as instructed but the SSS officers at
the reception refused to allow the
lawyers see Mr Francis.
We are deeply horrified by the ruthless
act of lawlessness perpetrated against
our client as enunciated above. We are
particularly petrified by reckless abuse
of power by men and officers under your
authority and instruction, but we are
however determined to invoke and utilize
every legal remedy available at our
client’s disposal to see that justice is
done.
The role played by the men and officers
under your leadership does not only
depict a blatant disregard for the
constitutional rights of Mr. Francis and
the tenets of any civilized society, but
clearly shows a despicable affront to
the clamor for the enthronement of the
rule of law championed by the current
government.
Consequent upon the foregoing, we demand
for the immediate release of Mr. Francis
Chinonso Umeh from your inordinate
custody, dead or alive.
We trust you will act without further
delay.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
For: Festus Keyamo Chambers
ALEXANDER OKETA, ESQ. OGHENOVO
O.OTEMU, ESQ.
Counsel
Counsel
Cc
1.
The Honourable Attorney-General
Of the Federation and Minister of
Justice,
Federal Ministry of Justice,
Abuja.
2.
The Director of Public
Prosecution,
Federal Ministry of Justice,
Abuja.
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