Petition for the immediate release of Mr. Emeka Ugwuonyonye and others detained unlawfullly
Headlines Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
November 25, 2011
H.E. Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the President
Aso Rock Villa
Abuja, Nigeria.
Your Excellency:
PETITION FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF EMEKA UGWUONYE, ESQ. AND OTHERS
SIMILARLY UNLAWFULLY DETAINED BY THE EFCC.
Again, we in The Committee for Rule of Law and Due Process in Nigeria consider it worthwhile
to write to you in support of your action to remove Mrs. Farida Waziri as the head of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the interest of Nigeria. It is time for work
to begin to undo the damage her tenure certainly wrought on the corporate image of Nigeria
generally, and particularly to the fight against corruption. Your action to remove her was
timely and strategic in that regard.
As we move forward, we must re-emphasize that Nigeria is viewed by the outside world
through the prism of how our government treats and respects the civil and constitutional rights
of the most vulnerable and the lowliest in our midst. The increasing incidents of reports about
arbitrary pretrial arrests and protracted incarceration of accused suspects without bail, even for
bailable offenses, portray the Nigerian law-enforcement and criminal justice system in very bad
light and thereby contribute in immeasurable ways in tarnishing the image of your
administration.
Despite the removal of the former chairperson, the circumstances of Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye and
others similarly situated in the detention centers of EFCC have not changed. We must
emphasize again that our demand is not directed at the guilt or innocence of Mr. Ugwuonye or
those others. We do not view the war against corruption lightly and wish all accused in that
manner to face the fair but full weight of the law. However, we are adamant that he is
unlawfully held in the EFCC jail, and his ill treatment is inconsistent with due process and our
Federal Constitution.
The notion that he, or anybody else, is detained for several weeks before being presented
before the court and additionally detained before being granted bail is inimical to your often
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expressed aspiration that your administration and government respects civil liberties and the
rule of law.
During his lengthy and patently unlawful incarceration, Mr. Ugwuonye has been subjected to
mental and physical torture in the hands of his jailors. He, as other detainees, has been denied
access to their lawyers, denied family visits and the basic humane treatment including
medications for the management of chronic or onset medical conditions while in detention.
Mr. Ugwonye and other detainees cannot be allowed to continue in jail pre-trial for the
somewhat nebulous offenses, despite the forceful shake up demonstrated by the removal of
the former chairperson. Their continued detention means that the fundamental issues are lost
in the euphoria of removal, while the Commission continues to swim and sink in the cesspool of
constitutional and human rights violations. This, no doubt, takes down with it the goodwill and
good image of Nigeria and cast aspersion on your otherwise good works in other aspects of
governance. Your commendable action in removing the former chairperson will therefore be
viewed as merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic after the behemoth hit the iceberg,
if these violations and continued detention continue.
We encourage your ongoing efforts aimed at sanitizing the EFCC so as to pull it back from its
deviant escapades and to redirect and refocus it, once again, on the mission that necessitated
its creation in the first place. Part of that cleanup process must include the immediate release
pending trial, bail on reasonable conditions and expeditious trial of all detainees and fellow
citizens who have been languishing in the EFCC jailhouses around the country.
Therefore, we, earnestly appeal to you to intervene in this matter in order to bring this
shameful denial of a fellow citizens’ fundamental human and civil rights to immediate end.
Particularly, Your Excellency, we request that you instruct the EFCC to release Mr. Ugwuonye
immediately on administrative bail in order to allow him to attend to his deteriorating health,
family and aging mother. Mr. Ugwuonye is a single father custodian of two young children, his
aged mother and head of his professional law practice which has been significantly degraded
since his abrupt arrest and lengthy incarceration by the EFCC during his return home to Nigeria,
ironically to honor his date before a court of Law.
We eagerly anticipate your response to this very urgent citizens’ plea.
Thank you for your time.
Signed:
Hope Umana, Esq.; Washington, D.C., USA
joan.Osa Oviawe; Seattle, Washington, USA
Joseph Attueyi; Lagos, Nigeria
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Daniel Elombah, Esq.; London, UK
Ibukunolu Alao Babajide, Esq.; Khartoum, Sudan
Okenwa Nwosu, MD.; Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh, PHD; Frankfurt, Germany
For and on behalf of Committee for Rule of Law and Due Process in Nigeria
Online Petition Signers
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/48/human-rights-abuse-Emeka-Ugwuonye/
Joan Oviawe United States
Noyo Edem United States
Christine Co Canada
Philip Achusim United States
Ike Agbor United States
Femi Oyesanya United States
Mazi Odera China
Jolly Anaba United States
Benjamin Aduba United States
Magnus Ekwueme United States
Richard Nwachukwu United States
Lucky Anetor United States
Azuoma Anugom United States
Ike Ejesi Canada
Mayor Nd Ezee United States
Tony Ogbodo United States
Salisu Abdullah United States
Christian Nwankwo United States
Ibuchukwu
Ohabuenyi Ezike NigeriaEmmanuel Franklyne Ogbunwezeh Germany
Federal Edosomwan Nigeria
Eze Eluchie Nigeria
Ezekiel Nwakwue United States
Bettina Lorenz Germany
Paschal Ukpabi United States
Victor Adefila United Kingdom
Uko Essien United States
Feyi George United States
Cornelius Akubueze United States
Goddy Aguguo United States
Abiodun Adeyanju Nigeria
Sherif Anyanwu United States
Abiemwense Michael Ehondor Italy
Benjamin Osagbaekhoe Canada
Blessing Asemota United States
Pius Adesanmi Canada
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Chiedu Chukwuisiocha United States
Carlisle Umunna United States
Edward Osakue United Kingdom
Efem Abudu United States
Osadebe Anam United States
Ralph Nwokike, Esq. United States
Seun George Nigeria
Joe Attueyi Nigeria
Thompson Essien United States
Emeka Echezona United States
Chike Chukwurah United States
Ezejiofo Udeh United States
Ade Abdul Raheem Sweden
Anthony Ejiofor United States
Chinedum Ihedigbo United States
Austin Anadu United States
Chukwuma Agwnobi United States
Reggie Ezeh United States
Osemetiti Okosun Canada
samaila Mamman Garu Nigeria
Prince Osuji Ghana
Vincent Unachukwu United States
Abraham Madu United States
Obi Chukwu United States
Eliseus Ibeh,msp United States
Cletus Ngaoka United States
Roman Soiko United States
Alessio Palmieri Italy
Pascal Okorie United States
Eugene Onwuka Nigeria
Kanayo Onyechi United States
Sir Joe Okeke ( Ochikwa Orah ) United States
Emmanuel Waje Katung Nigeria
Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke United Kingdom
Cynthia Omo-Crittendon United States
Uzo Nwokwu United States
Princess Amina United States
Prince Ali United States
Peterside Onwuta United Kingdom
ben Uduji United States
chris Ebosie Nigeria
Robb Tucker United States
Ed Laurson United States
Anii Aka United States
Daniel Elombah United Kingdom
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KC Morah United States
Simeon Godwin Nigeria
Olukayode Adedeji Nigeria
Banji Akinjewe Ireland
Azeez Lanre Nigeria
Patrick Doyle Nigeria
Ibrahim Bazambo Nigeria
Rasak Umoru Nigeria
Sunday Joseph Nigeria
Goddy Agbo United States
Uju Nwolum Nigeria
Olawale Ishola Nigeria
Johnny Van Iersel Belgium
Olakanmi Ismail Alabi Nigeria
Biodun Sofola Nigeria
Jelili Adebiyi United States
Calista Alaribe United States
Emeka Nwigwe United States
Nnanta Uwadineke United States
Peace Peace United States
Chris Uche United States
Emmanuel Uzo Obi United States
Ibrahim Buhari Nigeria
Akinwale Ojomo United States
Katie Salami United States
Frederick Umeh United States
Idotenyin Umana United States
Gregg Ukaegbu United States
Nwafada Nkanu United States
Jide Oshodi United States
Bamidele Oluwafemi Nigeria
Patience Abbe United States
Gabby Ikhide Ireland
Ibrahim Umar Babangida Nigeria
Obuora Ezeji-Okoye Canada
Ibukunolu Babajide Sudan
Ruchi Okeke Ewo United States
Chukwuemeka Okwesilieze United States
Michael Odika,DDS;MDS United States
Sidney Bernard United States
Amauche Ude United States
Ola Kassim Canada
Omo Ebomwonyi United States
Paul ‘Nwanne Ezeji United States
Ikponmwosa Otabo United Arab Emirates
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Oluwatobiloba Daniel Adelaja Nigeria
Bari Sheduwa Nigeria
Pam Boland United States
Aliu Hope Nigeria
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