A civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, to investigate allegations of serial harassment, threats to life of a knight of the Roman Catholic Church in Abuja, Sir. Lawrence Omotayo, by the Director-General of National Office for Trade Negotiation, Dr. Yonov Frederick Ogah.

HURIWA said investigating the allegations, including threats to life against Ogah by his neigbour in Abuja, who is a reputable businessman and community organizer in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Sir Omotayo, by the SGF would help to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the accusations.

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in a statement on Monday, that the group has visited the vicinity to verify some of those allegations and made several calls to the number said to belong to the accused person to no avail.

“The group said it is convinced that only the direct intervention of the SGF will assuage the monumental fear of Sir Lawrence Omotayo and his family members who are afraid of imminent threats to their lives because of the prominent public status of the alleged violator,” Onwubiko said.

HURIWA said it was in possession of petition by Omotayo, titled: “Petition against alleged intimidation, harassments with incessant summons, frivolous demand for N4m and threats to life of myself and family members allegedly by Dr. Yonov Frederick Agah, Director-General of National Office for Trade Negotiation who is a co-flat owner”, in which the petitioner appealed the group to draw the attention of the SGF to the allegations.

Omotayo, in the petition, traced the problem between and his neighbor to the guava tree he cut while renovating the compound where they both live with their families.

He said that Agah is demanding N3 million and 1 million in damages from him for cutting down the guava tree or they will drag him to court.

Omotayo also alleged that his life and that of his family were not safe as their cars were recently tampered with.

According to the petitioner, since he single-handedly embarked on the renovation of the compound, their relationship has been anything but cordial.

“I urge you to use your good office in protecting me and my family from the man who believed he is superior and powerful than all his neighbours to the extent that he intimidates and treat his fellow humans the way he likes,”Omotayo wrote in his petition to HURIWA

Onwubiko said that HURIWA was appealing to the SGF to intervene “so these citizens afraid that harm may be done to them are reassured,” adding, “HURIWA will similarly be sending the petition to the office of President Muhammadu Buhari as the father of the Nation to intervene.”

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