Abaribe's Lawyer reveals real reasons DSS arrested senator, searched home

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe‘s lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), on Saturday revealed why the Department of State Security (DSS) was detaining the former Deputy Governor of Abia State.

Ume said Abaribe was being held for alleged gun running and supporting the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

He noted that a search warrant, dated June 2, 2018, procured by the DSS to search Abaribe’s Abuja residence, allowed it to “focus and search for arms and ammunitions and any other incriminating document, while the alleged crime was aiding and supporting a proscribed body, i.e. IPOB.”

His words, “Yesterday (Friday) in the forenoon hours, our Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, a high ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was arrested by officers of state security services.

“The articulate senator who has contributed a lot to our nation building effort is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“His arrest was as shocking as it was curious. As his counsel, I have, long ago, complied with DSS stipulation for meeting with its detainees.

“I have also requested for a meeting with the DG of the service to know the reason for his arrest.

“All fell into refusal ears. At about 4:45pm, I was alerted that officers of the services were heading to the senator’s residence.

“I had to break my long wait at the DSS Headquarters and rushed to the senator’s residence.”

“This man is a known strong voice of the Igbo nation; hence this is a clamp down on the region.”

Ume said the search of the house lasted from about 5pm till 11:15 pm Friday.

He disclosed that 27 items were taken from his client’s home, none of which was a gun or ammunition.

“Unfortunately, two of the 27 items include the two handsets of two USA citizens found in the house.

“One of the laptops taken included that of an educationist containing examination questions slated to be set for students on the 25th of June 2018.

“All pleas for these questions to be copied were refused.

“Senator Abaribe, the surety to Nnamadi Kanu, is to appear in court on 26th June 2018, but on 22nd June 2018, Senator Abaribe was arrested and detained incommunicado,” Ume said.