ACN condemns police manhandling of Sen. Akpanudoedehen

Posted by admin Action Congress of Nigeria, Latest Politics, Party Politics Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described as barbaric and strongly condemnable, the manhandling of its governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Senator John Akpanudoedehen, by security agents who re-arrested and slapped him, after he was granted bail in the phantom treason charge against him.

National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in Ilorin yesterday that the ACN was particularly appalled at the lawlessness and sheer brigandage of the police officers, who stormed the court with their weapons drawn and virtually dragged out a man who is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The action of the police, he said, amounted to a grave desecration of the hallowed chambers of the Court, a mockery of justice and a sad reminder that Nigeria, though in a democratic dispensation now, can easily slip back to the dark days of military dictatorship.

ACN said it was ironic that such an act of violence in the deep recesses of a court, a few days before key elections, occurred under the watch of a President who has continuously told the world that he is committed to a free, fair and violence-free election.

‘’Nothing shows the partisanship and lawlessness of the police under IGP Hafiz Ringim more than the Gestapo-like action of the officers in not only re-arresting our gubernatorial candidate, even when the Judge has condemned the lack of evidence to back the grave charges slammed on him, but also slapping him.

‘’We demand that the police officer or officers involved in this show of shame be identified and punished, while the IGP himself must be sacked immediately, unless of course he is acting in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan.

‘’But whether or not Ringim is sacked, we will like to remind him of what happened to one of his predecessors in the not-too-distant past, who was dumped after being used by the powers that be to thwart the people’s will in another general election”.

-Vanguardwp_posts