His Excellency
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D
Executive Governor, Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
Abia State.
“The salvation of the oppressed lies not in the hands of the oppressors but in the hands of the oppressed” – Chidi Nwosu, founder, HRJPF.
Sir,
RE: SUSPECTED STATE GOVERNMENT CONNIVANCE, PROMOTION AND CONTRACTING OF THUGS FOR REVENUE DRIVE AND COLLECTION.
Who we are:
Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) is a private not for profit, non-religious and non-partisan pro-democracy organization committed to the entrenchment of democracy, respect for rule of law and the protection of the universal human rights of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable.
Mandate:
In pursuit of the aforesaid noble objectives, it became evident that realizing a democratic and wholesome society in accordance with our legal frame work (national and international treaties) will remain a mirage unless these legal tools are domesticated, implemented, properly utilized, and strictly adhered to. Where the laws are not put to proper use, corruption, intimidation, extortion and other forms of illegalities will continue with unabated vigour.
Based on the above, we at CEHRAWS in line with our mission of promoting good governance and a wholesome society wish to draw your attention to the above stated caption in order to help bring an end to the persistent illegal and harmful activities of thugs in Aba, and Abia State in general. These unlawful acts have negative results which will definitely jeopardize the image of your administration, if no urgent step is taken to remedy the situation.
Overview:
Sometime last year, precisely on the 20th of July, 2020, we wrote you an open letter with same caption indicating how some state actors and notable political allies have connived with thugs to inflict pains and sorrow on the residents. We are very saddened that till date, no practical steps have been taken by your administration to curb the menace. This to us is a reflection of your administration’s insensitivity to the plight of the masses. (Click this link to view the aforesaid open letter: HERE
Sir, it is worrisome that despite the challenging economic situation presently being faced by the masses, these criminal elements who are alleged to be ‘governor’s boys’ and thugs to your political allies have continuously increased the suffering of the people. As things presently are, thuggery seems to have received government’s approval in the commercial city of Aba.
The situation has become so bad that people from far and near who patronize made-in- Aba goods and services are now reluctant to visit the city due to the numerous nauseating activities of these thugs who constantly intimidate, extort and impound their vehicles. The barbaric activities of these thugs in the guise of government revenue agents have caused unimaginable hardship, loss of lives and properties.
Sir, you may not be aware that the made-in-Aba campaign which you have been at its forefront is presently being undermined by the activities of these thugs who put your name in disrepute by operating as ‘Governor’s boys’. At the moment, only tech-savvy entrepreneurs who are experienced in social media marketing in Aba are the ones still in business. We are aware that these thugs are being motivated by some highly placed persons in this your administration whose interest is to amass wealth, not minding its negative effects on the people, and the dent it has on your image.
Issue At Hand:
On Wednesday, the 22nd of September 2021 at about 3:30 pm, Mr. Josef Okoronkwo, a senior citizen of Abia state and an advisory member of our organization was humiliated, intimidated and his rights grossly infringed upon by the aforesaid thugs. This happened at Premier Montessori School, situated at Scotland Crescent, Aba, where he had gone to pick his little child.
While he briefly entered the premises, his vehicle which was parked before the school gate was forcefully towed away by these thugs who simply left a contact phone number on a broken ceiling board placed at the spot where the vehicle was parked. He was neither issued a booking slip, nor allowed to collect his valuables from the vehicle.
Some hours after, the phone number was contacted and the receiver who identified himself as ‘Aboy’ directed our team to meet with him inside the Aba main Park. On arrival at the place, a member of our two-man team who was trying to receive an incoming call was harshly accosted and wrongly accused of taking pictures of them by Aboy and his fierce looking cohorts.
He was publicly humiliated, his cell phone forcefully seized and coerced into disclosing his security pin to them. With no respect for our member’s privacy, Aboy and his boys explored the phone to their satisfaction. ‘If a human rights defender could be so shabbily treated, what could be the fate of the common man?’ One wonders!
Subsequently, our team introduced themselves to Aboy and pointed at the vehicle they came for. Immediately, the thugs who towed the vehicle recognized and confirmed Mr. Josef Okoronkwo who was with the team as the owner. CEHRAWS team pleaded with Aboy for the release of the vehicle and also to consider the nature of the aforesaid vicinity the vehicle was taken from. Bluntly and with an angry voice, Aboy demanded for a fine of N40,000.00 in cash before the vehicle would be released.
He threatened that any move to involve the authorities will worsen the issue and cause him to label the vehicle as one being used for criminal activities, because according to him, ‘we own this government and we dictate what happens in this city’. While our team hopefully waited for his consideration to their plea, they overheard the driver to an impounded Hilux Van beckoning on Aboy to speak with Chief Eugene as he handed over a cell phone to him. After a very brief phone discussion, the Hilux van was released to the driver.
Thereafter, one of the thugs approached our team, condescendingly told them to use their big grammar and position in the society to call Chief Eugene, their boss, or reach out to the governor or any top government official for help just as did the Hilux van driver. Sternly, he warned that the fine for every impounded vehicle in their custody increases on a daily basis and the safety of such vehicle is not guaranteed.
Determined to have the vehicle released to the aged Mr. Josef Okoronkwo, the CEHRAWS team gave the sum of N500 in cash to the thug to help direct them to the said Chief Eugene or possibly make available his contact(s). The particular thug confided in our team that the Chief Eugene in question is the Abia state Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and that he was not in the right position to release his contact details.
Sir, it might interest you to know that from that Wednesday till date (six days), all efforts put in place to reach Chief Eugene in order to have the vehicle released to the aged owner have proved abortive. Hence, propelled us to write you this open letter before further actions.
The heinous activities of these thugs have not only sent many Abians to an early grave, they have equally caused heavy damage to this great city and state. On various media platforms, your administration has on several occasions disassociated itself from the activities of these thugs.
Nonetheless, the masses have come to regard those as mere political talks as no practical actions have been taken to stop the menace. We know you to be a scholar who understands the effects of these nefarious activities on the society and therefore, will not consciously condone such. Hence, the expectation of the people on you to take an urgent proactive action to eliminate thuggery in the state is yet unmet.
Demands:
Your Excellency Sir, in consideration to the plight of Mr. Okoronkwo, and in line with expectations of the people, we hereby demand as follows:
1. An end to the lingering cruel and unlawful activities of thugs in Aba to save the masses from further harm.
2. Compel the NURTW chairman (Chief Eugene), Aboy and his cohorts to with immediate effect, release the vehicles in their custody, especially Mr. Josef Okoronkwo’s vehicle forcefully and illegally impounded 6 days ago in good condition with all his valuables intact.
3. Public arraignment and prosecution of these criminal elements in order to debunk the alleged complicity of your administration and possibly deter others from such unlawful activities.
CEHRAWS, in consonance with her resolve to promote a better Abia has played vital roles in OGP/SFTAS initiative which has been of huge benefits to the state. We believe that your administration is properly utilizing these opportunities and the CSOs efforts to reposition the state.
On that note, we wish to advise that our lenient approach should not be taken for granted as we humbly give your administration 7 days from today (27/09/2021) to accomplish our demands as stated above. Failure to meet our demands within the stated time frame will leave us with the option of taking further actions within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice prevails.
We pledge to continuously contribute our quota in facilitating the entrenchment of your administration’s initiatives towards the attainment of a better Abia. Nonetheless, we shall not fail in promoting zero tolerance to all forms of abuse, criminality, intimidation and other unlawful activities.
Thank you in anticipation of your prompt attention and quick result.
Yours faithfully,
Okoye, Chuka Peter
For CEHRAWS
+234-803-552-9865
Facebook page: @cehraws
