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| Wali |
The
recent kidnap of the immediate past President of Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Mr Okey Wali (SAN) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by unknown gunmen is
already causing fear and panic among many prominent lawyers in the embattled
state, with most of them currently going underground.
He was
kidnapped during the weekend, around his house in Rumualogu, Port Harcourt,
between 7 and 8pm. The bandits were said to have forced their way into the victim’s
vehicle as he was returning home, and drove him out of the vicinity before
forcing the SAN into their vehicle and drove away. The victim’s car was later
recovered at Ozuoba area, where it was abandoned by the kidnappers. The
abductors were yet to contact his family as at Press time, even as his
whereabouts remain unknown.
Reacting
to the abduction of his immediate past predecessor, President of the Nigerian
Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and other prominent lawyers, in a
statement, urged the kidnappers to immediately release him to his anxious
family.
According
to the statement: “Okey Wali SAN is a man of peace who has not only contributed
immensely to the enthronement of rule of law and protection of human rights,
but also to the development of our nation. It is therefore saddening that he
should become a kidnap victim.
The
statement read further:“This sad event is yet another reminder of the state of
insecurity in which all Nigerians live. The NBA calls on the Federal Government
to step up efforts to fulfill its primary constitutional role of providing for
the welfare and security of all Nigerians.”
The NBA
boss, who told Daily Sun yesterday that the association was working with
all security agents to ensure Wali’s release, however, said the suspected
kidnappers had yet to establish contact with anyone.
Also
speaking, the Chairman, NBA, Rivers State Branch, Dennis Okwamkpa, said the
body was worried over the abduction of their colleague.
Okwamkpa,
who spoke to Daily Sun on phone yesterday, condemned in strong terms,
the kidnap of Wali.
He also
expressed worry that some prominent members of the state had become the target
of kidnappers, saying, the ugly trend should not be allowed to continue.
Additional reports from Daily Sun
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