Sylva’s ex-aides battle sedition allegation

[Mirror]

EMMA GBEMUDU writes on the travails of Tonye Okio and Fakuma Ilagha, aides to former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Silva, over a post on a social media network.

This is not the best of times for Tonye Okio, a former political aide to the erstwhile governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva. The travails of Okio, an ordained Knight in the Catholic Church started on Saturday, October 26, when he was "abducted" from his Abuja residence by "15 gunmen."

Relations and friends of Okio became apprehensive over his plight. The Otuokpoti -born politician never bargained for what befell him. They alleged his mobile phone and that of his sister were taken away by the "unwanted visitors" for undisclosed reasons.

But, two days after the incident, the picture became clearer that Okio, a former Special Adviser to the governor in Abuja was actually arrested by plain-clothes men of the Bayelsa State Police Command over alleged sedition. Political associates and the human rights family are worried that the suspect, over 10 days after his abduction, was yet to be arraigned in court. But, close aides to the Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, said the suspect should face justice to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Police authorities insisted that Okio would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were concluded into the case. However, Okio and his supporters had alleged that he was being detained in Police custody at the instance of the state governor, Dickson.

There are indications that the rumour which spread in the state that Dickson was arrested by security agents in London with $5 million did not go down well with the governor, his aides and supporters. They insisted that the governor never travelled to London, but that he only went to United States of America, USA, on an official trip.

It was learnt that Governor Dickson was visibly disturbed over a Facebook post reportedly made by Okio which reads: "A sitting governor from the South-South has been arrested abroad with $5 million cash. Efforts are being made to kill the case, but I hear oga at the top has refused to be involved. A former sitting governor from this same state was involved in similar case years ago."

Investigation by National Mirror revealed that the two-week absence of the governor from the state may have given rise to the rumours which "spread" like a wild fire in the state. The rumour generated confusion among Dickson's aides and the citizenry.

In a recent statement, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, Peter Ogboi, DSP, confirmed the arrest of Okio over alleged seditious publications on Facebook, a social media network. The Police Command said the suspect; whose other syndicate members were now at large would be appropriately arraigned in court when investigation was completed.

Arriving Yenagoa on October 23 to a grand reception after his two-week absence, the governor alleged that opposition forces in the state had adopted blackmail and propaganda against his administration.

Apparently making reference to his alleged arrest in London with $5 million, Dickson said he would not be deterred by the series of lies being peddled against him and his administration by the opposition.

Received by the Deputy Governor, John Jonah, commissioners, political aides, National Union of Bayelsa State Students and other political groups at the gateway of Igbogene and Government House gate, Dickson warned the people not to fall into trap of despondency and lies being peddled by the opposition against his administration.

His words: "There were people we knew who had opportunity to make a difference, but, who could not and rather than join hands with all of us to make our state safe and prosperous, they have resorted to blackmail and propaganda to create unnecessary tension. But, we know that as long as we are doing what is right, as long as we are serving in all honesty, God Almighty being with us and with the support we are seeing, the state will continue to move from glory to glory."

But analysts argued that the arrest of Okio may have political undertone as investigations by National Mirror revealed that Governor Dickson and his predecessor, Timipre Sylva could be described as "arch enemies".

Already, the suspect and his counsel, D.D. Fiderikumo have dragged Governor Dickson and the Police Command to court over his continued detention without trial. In an affidavit in support of the application, sworn to by Mr. Tonyo Biriabebe, Okio is claiming N2.2bn for damages over his unlawful arrest and detention.

Part of the affidavit reads: "On Saturday, October 26, 2013, some officers and men of the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Police arrested him while he was in his house in Abuja and whisked him away to their office in Yenagoa and have detained him. The policemen refused to disclose to him the reason for the arrest but simply informed him that they were from the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police and that he was needed by Governor Dickson and the State Police Commissioner.

"He was taken to Yenagoa by road, bound feet and hands with cuffs and blindfolded throughout the journey. He was beaten and tortured by the policemen who openly boasted that they will kill him and do away with his corpse for daring Governor Dickson who had instructed them to do to him as it pleases them. He was so afraid of being killed by the policemen in the course of the dark journey as the words and actions of his captors were mutually reinforcing to the extent that he even urinated in his clothes in the process.

"It was in Yenagoa that he was informed by the policemen that his arrest and detention are on account of a statement made on his Facebook account. He has been in police detention on the orders of Governor Dickson since his arrest, and denied bail on the excuse that the police are investigating to determine a possible case against him. There has not been any formal complaint against him for any wrongdoing. There is no law criminalising the making of the statement as contained in his Facebook account and same does not refer to any particular person."

Also, a social and political activist in Yenagoa, Doifie Buokoribo, has demanded the immediate release of Okio. In a statement made available to National Mirror in Yenagoa, Buokoribo described the arrest of Okio and his continued detention as illegal, unfair and undemocratic, alleging that the Bayelsa State governor, Dickson, was the mastermind of Okio's arrest, describing it as a grand impunity.

Buokoribo said Okio has been critical of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration over his alleged misgovernance of the country.

He said: "On Saturday, October 26, about 15 men, including plain-clothes Special Investigation Bureau, SIB, officials and those attached to the Police Mobile Force, invaded the Abuja residence of Okio with three vehicles – one Prado Jeep and two Police Escort vans – and forcefully seized him. Thereafter they took his iPad and the mobile phones of himself and his younger sister."

According to Buokoribo, the Police authorities claimed Okio, who is the state Publicity Secretary of the new Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would be charged for allegedly writing on his Facebook page recently that an unnamed South-South governor was recently caught with $5 million dollars, which the suspect denied.

"If Dickson believes he is the said governor alleged to have issues of money laundering in the U.S., he should know what to do as a lawyer," the activist said, condemning in strong terms the use of the police to harass, intimidate and blackmail a political opponent, stressing that it was indecent.

Barely a week after Okio's arrest, the Police later said he was being charged for conspiracy and defamation of character. The Bayelsa State Police Command also confirmed another arrest of a political associate to Sylva, Fakuma Ilagha, over alleged conspiracy and defamation of Governor Dickson's character.Acting Police Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa Command, Peter Ogboi, in a statement said the suspect, Ilagha, who is the Managing Director of FAK Engineering Company, Yenagoa and Tonye Okio had been arraigned in court.

According to the Police Command, the matter was adjourned till November 21 as the suspects have been remanded in Yenagoa Prisons.

The command warned potential troublemakers that the Police and other security agencies would not sit back and watch them derail the existing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

He said: "The two suspects remanded in Prison custody while hearing adjourned to November 21. The command once again wishes to use this medium to urge law-abiding citizens in the state to feel free and go about their lawful businesses."

Several efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson ,to react on the development was futile as he declined to respond to his phone calls and text message sent by our correspondent.

In the same vein, when contacted, State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Markson Fefegha ,said he was busy in an engagement with the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

As the drama over the continued detention of Okio unfolds, analysts argued that his "offence" was bailable. They advocated for his speedy trial, rather than keeping him in detention. But stakeholders in midstream politics alleged the suspect's arrest has a political undertone. They warned the governor against intimidating his perceived political enemies with security agencies.