Efio-Ita Nyok|26 July 2017
The Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr LGA in Cross River State, Obol Ofem Ubana, Tuesday, denied the news making the rounds that he was arrested and taken to Nigeria's capital by officers of State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from Force Headquarters, Abuja NegroidHaven can authoritatively inform.
According to the monarch, he was never arrested neither was his palace searched. His words, 'My son, d (sic) lion of Umor Otutu, was never arrested and Umor Otutu Palace was not searched'. He made this remark below the thread of one diaspora Nigerian of Yakurr indigenisation, Mr Obasesam Okoi.
However, reports from CRW has it that the Obol Lopon of Ugep, Ubana was actually arrested by Federal State Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) but later released when they couldn't take him out of Ugep because of resistant youths. He has been invited to appear before the Nigerian Police on Monday 31st July.
Recall that a leading news online outfit, CRW, had reported yesterday that the traditional ruler was arrested by SARS and taken to Abuja for questioning. It should also be recalled that Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla the SA to the President on Prosecution had petitioned the IG of Police mentioning over 40 alleged cultists and implicating the Obol Lopon of Ugep in cultism. However, Mr Okoi has slammed CRW for making such a report, his words reads in part, 'A source close to the palace had placed a call to the Obol Lopon to confirm the story and discovered it's inaccurate and absolute falsehood.
'When does an invitation for an interview amount to arrest? Publishing such insensitive information without proper investigation does not only portray junk journalism but also an attempt to smear the Ugep community.
'I call on Ugep people to resist any attempt by junk journalist to rubbish the image of our community and to stir violence against law enforcement agencies'.
My reservation is that when a profoundly revered traditional stool can be associated with cultism in the first place then, it becomes obvious where the problem with actually Nigeria lies —leadership! And Chinua Achebe's The Trouble with Nigeria best captured this narrative.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
