The Nigerian Bar Association has
pleaded for the release of its
immediate past President, Mr.
Okey Wali (SAN), who was said to
have been abducted in Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital,
on Saturday.
Wali was said to have been
abducted at about 9pm on
Saturday.
He was abducted in Rumualogu,
Obio/Akpor Local Government Area
on his way to visit his elder
brother.
It was learnt that a group of armed
men, who had ostensibly laid
ambush for him, double-crossed
him and forcefully entered his
vehicle. The elder was later
abandoned on the road by the
kidnappers while they took away
Wali, who was probably their
target.
Wali’s vehicle was later abandoned
Wali, according to an indigene of
the area, was with an elder in the
area, when the hoodlums swooped
on him and drove them away. The
kidnappers of the former NBA
president had yet to establish
contact with his family.
In a statement by the incumbent
President of the NBA, Mr.
Augustine Alegeh (SAN), on
Sunday, the association also
called on the Federal Government
to be committed to its
constitutional responsibility of
protecting the lives of Nigerians.
The statement read, “The Nigerian
Bar Association has just received
the shocking news that the NBA
26th President, Okey Wali (SAN),
was on Saturday October 11, 2014
at about 9pm kidnapped by
unknown persons in Port Harcourt.
“Wali 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.
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
fulfil its primary constitutional role
of providing for the welfare and
security of all Nigerians. We
passionately appeal to his
abductors for his immediate and
safe release to his family.”
Meanwhile, the Police said they
were yet to get any clue on Wali’s
abduction.
The Police spokesman, Emmanuel
Ojukwu, who said this, however,
told one of our correspondents on
Sunday, that everything was being
done to rescue Wali from his
captors.
Asked if the abductors had
demanded for ransom from Wali’s
family, Ojukwu said no. He
however assured that the Police
were working hard to ensure the
safe return of the former NBA
President to his family.
Ojukwu said,”The abductors have
not made any demand so far, but
all hands are on deck to rescue
the victim from his captors. The
Rivers State Command has
deployed all its personnel to track
and fish out the perpetrators and I
can assure you that they have
nowhere to hide; we will find them,
rescue Wali and make them face
the wrath of the law for their
crime.”
Reacting to the incident, a legal
luminary, Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN),
said, “People should not take
kidnapping as a profession. When
you now kidnap the immediate-
past President of the NBA, you are
sending a signal to the outside
world that there is instability in
the country and it is unfortunate.
People should not concern
themselves alone with what they
can make; they should consider
the interest of other Nigerians.”
He also pleaded with Wali’s
kidnappers to “please release the
gentleman.”
Also, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN),
who expressed shock at the news
of Wali’s abduction, said, “Is it
true? That would be very
unfortunate. That is rather tragic;
the man is a complete gentleman.
In fact, I am speechless. It was
(Mike) Ozekhome, now Okey Wali,
who is the next?
Also, the Civil Liberty Organisation
called for the immediate and
unconditional release Wali.
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