The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Friday demanded the immediate release of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross river state, demanded for the immediate release of the INEC commissioner, Mrs. Geslia Khan.
Reacting to the arrest and detention of the commissioner, the group described the nature of the Buhari’s administration as totally unacceptable and poses serious danger to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Mrs. Khan, on Wednesday, April 13 2016 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
A statement signed by its spokesman, Eric Omare had gone to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour an invitation and having met with the EFCC team, they demanded for a first class traditional ruler or holder of the national honour of Commander of the Niger (CON) to stand surety to bail her.
However, when the surety was made available on Thursday, April 14 2016, the EFCC at Port Harcourt claimed that they no longer know her whereabouts. ‘The IYC completely condemn this illegal conduct and flagrant abuse of power by the EFCC in the guise of fighting corruption.
While all well meaning Nigerians and organizations including the IYC have over the years supported efforts at stamping out corruption from Nigeria, we insist that such fights must be done within the ambits of the law and not to witch hunt perceived enemies of the government in power. The statement added that if the EFCC and other security agencies have any case against Mrs. Khan, they should take her to a competent court of law and not subject her to continuous harassment and intimidation.
The statement reads, “The arrest, continuous harassment, detention and taking of Mrs. Khan to an unknown destination by Buhari’s security agents is a deliberate effort to punish her because the ruling party lost the 2015 general elections in Rivers State. Mrs. Khan served as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State during the 2015 general elections. ‘Nigerians would recall the illegal arrest and molestation of Mrs. Khan by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) under Mr. Daura in order to discredit the general elections in 2015 Rivers State at the tribunal in August 2015.
“This effort by the EFCC is a continuation of the humiliation and psychological torture of Mrs. Khan. The IYC finds the vindictive nature of the Buhari administration totally unacceptable. “This attitude poses serious danger to our democracy and the rule of law. For a government that came into power due to the political magnanimity of a sitting President to be going after any person it deems to have acted as an obstacle to taking over Rivers State, its cash cow is most disappointing and worrisome.
Nigeria is under siege and civil society organizations and Nigerians must stand up against these wanton violations of the rights of citizens under the guise of fighting corruption. Consequently, the IYC demands for the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Gesila Khan and warn the Buhari administration to stop the witch hunt against Nigerians and especially Niger Deltans who served under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.”
