Once again, Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has been enmeshed in alleged dehumanisation of citizens who offended him or the law, rather than use civilised administrative and legal means to address such infringements.

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the governor reportedly directed his military orderlies to flog late-coming civil servants, a viral video of which was posted on Twitter by renowned human rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu.

In the video, the governor was seen watching as the victims, numbering about ten, were being flogged while shocked onlookers watched from a safe distance.

The governor’s spokesman, Uchenna Orji, claimed in a rebuttal that the video was “doctored and manipulated”, adding that the victims were “miscreants” enforcing a “sit-at-home order” at the Ebonyi Airport under construction to “possibly embarrass the governor” who was on a routine inspection tour of the project.

Governor Umahi is not a stranger to allegations of ordering people to be flogged for alleged violations. In May 2020, he had directed local government officials and law enforcement agencies to flog anyone who appeared in public without a face mask.

Also, in April 2020, Umahi pronounced a “life ban” on Vanguard Correspondent, Peter Okutu and his colleague of The SUN, Chijioke Agwu, from the Government House and any government facility, to show his displeasure over their reportage of his government. In a statewide broadcast, he had declared that the safety of the journalists could no longer be guaranteed. When this story went viral, Umahi again denied it and claimed the video of his broadcast was “doctored”.

The same thing happened when the governor allegedly sent the Police to tear-gas and disperse a rally staged by supporters of a rival political party. He denied involvement and instead heaped the responsibility on the Police.

Umahi should at least have the courage to own up to his dastardly human rights infractions.

These antics are unbecoming of the first citizen of Ebonyi State whom many look up to for example in terms of civilised personal conduct, integrity and adherence to the rule of law as befits a democratic society. The use of military and police personnel to attack hapless citizens rather than put culprits through the rule of law is condemnable.

We wish to remind Umahi of the letter addressed to him by the National Coordinator of the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu (SAN), that flogging violates the constitutional rights of his victims, the Anti-Terror Act of 2017 and the Africa Charter on Human Rights.

Unfortunately, this governor who has shown his disdain for law and order may end up in the Senate to make laws for Nigerians. Governor Umahi’s immunity does not protect him from being sued in his personal capacity for human rights violations.

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