Abaribe regains freedom, thanks Nigerians
About 6.32pm Tuesday 2018 Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe walked to freedom after 5 days in the DSS gulag. He rejoined his family shortly after the authorities of DSS let him go.
Abaribe who was granted administrative bail was released to his lawyers led by Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN).
Speaking on the premises of the DSS in Abuja, he thanked Nigerians for standing up against the wrongs done to Nigerian democracy with his arrest.
“The collective calls and demand for his release have shown the great spirit of Nigerians for justice”, his lawyer said.
DSS personnel had on Friday morning arrested Abaribe and later cordoned off his Apo residence. Abaribe who is the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy was picked by DSS at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Same day the DSS operatives searched his house for six hours.
His lawyer after his arrest gave insight into why the lawmaker was nabbed. Addressing Journalists in Abuja, Ume disclosed that Abaribe was arrested and detained by the DSS operatives because of allegations that he was supporting, aiding and sponsoring a proscribed body, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
He said that the security operatives searched everywhere in his house in company of Abaribe who was brought from the headquarters of the DSS for a period of six hours, from 5pm- 11pm before he was taken back to the headquarters.
He said the DSS denied the Senator access to his lawyer, family members and his doctor. The lawyer disclosed that the arrest was contained in a search warrant dated 2nd June 2018 which directed DSS operatives who searched Abaribe’s house to “focus and search for arms and ammunitions and any other incriminating document, while the alleged crime was aiding and supporting a proscribed body i.e. IPOB.” He said: “Of all the 27 items seized and taken away non could be all they wanted to see in terms of arms and ammunitions or stored bags of Ghana Must Go for sponsoring the said IPOB.
“But unfortunately two of the 27 items include: The two handsets of two USA citizens found in the home. “One of the laptops taken included that of an educationist containing examination questions slated to be set for students on the 25th of June 2018.
“All pleas for this questions to be copied was refused.”