By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Human rights and constitutional lawyer, Barr. Ichire Imo-Okim, has called on Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola, to stop NIS personnel operating in Cross River State from harassing or intimidating traditional rulers of Effi community in Ikom LGA of the state.
The lawyer made the call on Wednesday while answering questions from newsmen shortly after the traditional rulers of Effi Community in Ikom LGA ended a meeting with security agents at Ikom police division.
Okim stated that the numerous invitations extended to traditional rulers in Effi Community by the Cross River State Command of Immigration Service were uncalled for, adding that the invitations amounts to infringement on his clients’ Fundamental human rights even when they committed no offense.
A statement emanated from Ichire Imo- Okim and Co Chambers dated August 24, titled, Re: “National Security Risk Urgent Action Required, Suspicious Entry into Effi Community Forest and the Cross River South Forest Reserve without Diplomatic and Security Clearance”, expressed dismay over what Okim described as Intimidation of his clients even when they did nothing wrong.
“For Christ sake, why are they tossing these monarchs like football around ? These are my clients. It would be unfair if I sit down fold my arms and watch them toss them around like that!
“Chinese nationals only visited our community and said that they want something from our community, whether we agree or not, shouldnt have been an issue, unfortunately the visit has become an issue.
“In the first instance,my clients Effi traditional rulers, had not even entered into any agreement with the Chinese nationals, unfortunately it became an issue.
“Let me state here clearly that it’s because of an inciting and faultfinding letter written by Prince Odey Oyama to the Immigration authority that had raised so much dust ” Okim stated.
Okim accused Oyama of plotting to distabilize the peace and unity enjoyed among community members home and abroad, claiming that Effi community have right to entertain visitation.
He stated that Odey’s long standing unprovoked and malicious attacks and disparagement against the community chiefs is nothing but a crave to distabilize Effi community traditional Institution.
“Nigerian Immigration Service and other relevant Government agencies have done the needful before the foreign nationals gained entry and accessed our clients.
Okim urged Oyama to desist forth with from undermining traditional Institution of Effi Community as the community would not hesitate to seek redress at the appropriate quarters if need be.
The lawyer, who claimed that the traditional rulers had done no wrong for receiving two Chinese nationals that visit the community not for evil but for the good of the community.
Earlier the monarchs were invited to a meeting with Cross River State Security Adviser on Security Matters SSA, retired AIG John Abang where they brainstormed for hours at Ikom Local Government Council headquarters, and latter with Ikom Division of Nigeria police where they also brainstormed with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Usang Victor, who was represented by SP Terryima Dzuwgwe.
Latter it was gathered that some Community stakeholders were again invited by Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Cross River State Command, headed by Emmanuel Akinrinsola.
With this development, lawyer to the community averred that it was uncalled for the community chiefs who had done no wrong to be tossed around like common criminals.
Effort to get reaction of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Public Relations Officer PRO, Nora Ajana, Cross River State Command failed as she was said to be in a zoom meeting at the time of filing this report. Also, text messages sent to her regarding the issue were never replied.
However, in a swift reaction to issue, Oyama who is Executive Director of Rain Forest Reserve and Development, stated that he had no regret about the petition which he sent to the immigration authority and other relevant government agencies concerning the issue.
“All am doing is to protect the Chinese against depleting the forest. The forest is a blessing from God which must be protected and passed from on generation to another.
“We are making arrangements to set up a timber shade once we are able to obtain clearance from the Cross River State Forestry Commission that we will do through forest regeneration”
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