The Nigeria Police Force has been given a 14-day ultimatum to charge a detained suspected militants spy girl, Miss Gloria Okolie, to court if she has committed any known offence or release her unconditionally.

Former second vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, gave the advice following alleged long and illegal detention of one Gloria Okolie by police authorities for over 67 days for her friendship with an alleged IPOB member.

In a statement entitled: “Release Gloria Okolie unconditionally or charge her to court if she has committed any crime,” Ubani said it was absolutely wrong for the police to arrest an individual before sourcing evidence for prosecution.

According to him, it was further alleged that while she is under police detention in Owerri, she had been used as a slave (beast of burden) and terribly abused, tortured by the officers in charge of her detention.

Ubani, who is also the Chairman, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), said he would commence enforcement of her fundamental rights, which had been criminally violated if the request was not adhered to as usual by police authorities.

He stressed that it was not only archaic but patently criminal for police officers to indulge in primitive investigation of crime in modern times.

He said: “What makes this matter more shocking is the latest press release of the current Inspector General of Police after over 67 days conceding to the arrest and illegal long detention on the ground that she was providing information, drugs and weapons to the said IPOB members.

“While these allegations are yet to be verified as no lawyer or relation had access to her, we are of the candid opinion that there are many things wrong with this detention which we consider patently illegal, wicked and appalling.

“According to the IGP, “further investigations by the police team revealed that Gloria Okolie takes advantage of her gender and seemingly innocuous looks as camouflage to carry out espionage against military and police targets on behalf of IPOB/ESN.

“The truth of the matter is that if the IGP thinks that this explanation will justify this long and illegal detention of this young lady, it has further exposed the incompetence and illegality with which the security agencies carry out investigations in Nigeria.

“Assuming but not conceding that these “grave allegations” are true, does this by any stretch of imagination empower any security agency any right to detain a citizen for such length of time, thereby depriving her the constitutionally guaranteed rights of

freedom of movement, rights of dignity of person and right of fair trial within a reasonable time as provided under 1999 Constitution? Nay, her guaranteed rights of presumption of innocence until proven guilty has been destroyed permanently by this lengthy detention without any charge or arraignment.”

(The PUNCH: Text, excluding headline)

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