Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
There is no end in sight yet over the controversy ignited by the recent genocidal threat against Ndigbo by the former Niger Delta ex-militant, Asari Dokubo, as Igbo lawyers have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, demanding his immediate arrest.
This is as the lawyers have urged the Federal Government to quickly comply without further delays, court judgments and the United Nations Opinion, ordering the unconditional release of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Igbo Lawyers Association, ILA, an umbrella body of lawyers of Igbo extraction, vowed to deploy every legal arsenal at their disposal to ensure Dokubo did not go unpunished over his unprovoked vituperations against the Igbo race.
ILA expressed utter shock and disappointment that the Federal Authorities have maintained criminal silence over the weighty utterances by the former militants’ Leader.
Rising from its meeting in Aba, Abia State, the group vowed to use every available legal means to ensure Dokubo paid for his action.
ILA in a letter to the IGP dated 6th July 2023, and titled: “Threats/Hate Speech Against Ndi-Igbo by Asari Dokubo: A Call For His Arrest and Possible Prosecution,”
said that Dokubo could not be be allowed to go unpunished.
The letter was jointly signed by the Deputy Leader of ILA, Chief Ukpai Ukairo; and Coordinator, Chinonye Onweremadu.
The letter made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “We have watched with dismay and disbelief the video of Asari Dokubo which was circulated online on 23 June 2023, wherein he threatened to wipe out the Igbo Race, which said threats, as contained in the video, are against the spirit of the anti-terrorism act and the cybercrime act of 2015.
“In the said video, Asari Dokubo was seen committing this heinous crime against one of the major tribes/races in Nigeria. Regrettably, the said suspect is still walking freely without any sign of arrest or prosecution.
“Therefore, we the Igbo Lawyers Association passionately call on your highly respected office, to quickly intervene, and arrest Asari Dokubo for possible investigation and prosecution. Accept our esteemed regards.”
In a communique also issued by ILA after the meeting, the Igbo lawyers, demanded: “That the Inspector General Of Police should order the arrest of Asari Dokubo, with immediate effect for possible investigation and prosecution of the threats to wipe out the Igbo tribe, which is one of the major tribes in Nigeria.
“We noted with dismay and disbelief that despite the notoriety of the said video of threats to wipe out the Igbo Race, Asari Dokubo is still walking freely in Nigeria without any form of arrest from the police.
“And in the event the Inspector General Of Police fails to heed the call to arrest Asari Dokubo, Igbo lawyers will commence a suit of mandamus to compel the Inspector General Of Police to do his work.”
