As a human rights body, Lawyers Watch for Justice International intensifies action to ensure justice for persons who allegedly suffered unlawful arrest and intimidation over community related issues. There have been reactions, part of which threaten to sue the group for defamation, just as the accused, the chairman of lkwerre Local Government Area, Hon Samuel Nwaosike dissociated himself from complicity in the matter as he named persons who may be directly involved in the matter.
At a forum organized by the human rights group in Port Harcourt, Friday the body alleged that both the arrest and intimidation of Jeoffery lkechi and his physically challenged cousin, Emeka Onuah currently in police detention in Abuja was masterminded by the lkwerre Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Samuel Nwanosike.
The group which based information made available to it by the victims and family members of the victims , which include their aged mother , wife of the physically challenged and another sibling of the victims , decried the events which led to their intimidation, embarrassment, arrest and detention, among others of the persons involved .
According to lkechi Jeoffery who was said to have filed an application order to enforce his fundamental right (copy of which was made available to this medium which was sought in the federal High Court , Port Harcourt Judinary Division in 2019 before his latest arrest, the bone of contention was his position as the community liaison Officer (CLO) to All Grace Energy Limited / Western Ord Oil and Gas Limited (joint venture ) whereby he was threatened by all the parties listed in the notices of application for order enforcing fundamental rights (Order 2, Rule1) which include Hon Samuel Nwanosike, Mr Dandyson Omrala, among others.
Lawyers Watch for Justice International equally noted that one of the victims had once sought an injunction restricting respondents, which included security agent from illegal arrest, unlawful detention and molestation before the recent arrest on the 17th February 2020 and the physically challenged cousin on the 19th February 2020 .
But just as the human rights group decried the arrest of persons as denigration of competent court of law , despite pendency of the matter in the court of law, noted that Jeoffery lkechi `s first arrest was predicated on falsehood as the victim was said to have stated that his position as the CLO was being challenged because of an attempt to remove him and put another person The body stated that he was rearrested on same ground despite subsisting suit (with his physically challenged younger brother)
