PRESS STATEMENT

MY POSITION ON KUFRE CARTER, MONETARY INDUCEMENT OF END SARS PROTEST BY GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL

My attention had since been drawn to reports on social media about the monetary inducement of Mr. Kufre Carter and few other #EndSARS protesters by @MrUdomEmmanuel.
I have also seen and read the public admission made by Kufre, to the effect that he collected the sum of N500, 000 out of the N4, 000,000 given by the governor.

I completely dissociate myself from this unfortunate development, and I wholeheartedly deprecate same.
We cannot be clamouring for a better Akwa Ibom cum Nigeria, while dining with those who have destroyed this country. We are either with the oppressors or with the oppressed.

Kufre Carter is an adult and should be held accountable for his actions and inactions.
It is good that he came out to admit his wrongful action. Those who are chastising him are justified.
I am particularly sad about the fact that the same Governor Emmanuel who has failed to create jobs or the enabling environment for the private sector to create jobs, would dole out 4 million Naira to compromise young people who were pursuing a genuine agitation for police reform.
It is particularly shameful that while some governors are busy seeking ways to address the demands of the #EndSARS protesters in their States, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was looking for a way to bribe Akwa Ibom youths.
It is irresponsible for public funds to be deployed for such sinister, immoral and utterly disgraceful purpose.

It should be noted that the Akwa Ibom State Governor is yet to set aside money as Victims' Support Fund; which is one of the key demands of the #EndSARS protesters.
Although Governor Emmanuel has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate abuses by SARS, the public should note that this particular governor has a terrible history of treating the outcome of such inquiries with indignation.
Governor Udom Emmanuel refused to implement the recommendations of the Justice Essang Umoekoyo-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the collapse of the Reigners' Church which occured in 2016 killing dozens of citizens.
The Reigners' Church Founder, Mr. Akan Weeks, who was indicted by the Panel, is a friend of the governor. He has been shielded and protected by his friend from prosecution for his ignominious role in the collapse of the structure.
There is no evidence on record that the families of those who lost their loved ones have been compensated by the government as recommended by the Commission of Inquiry.

This shows the governor's disregard for human lives.
We should therefore not be carried away by the fact that he has set-up a panel to probe abuses by SARS.

Without equivocation, I condemn the monetary inducement.
Kufre's action came to me as a rude shock given his ongoing travails in the hands of these same demonic forces. I have spent enormous resources to defend him. Our firm has fought for him ferociously without compromise, and without collecting a Kobo from him till date.
The least that we expected, was for him to keep a decent distance from the corrupt political elements who wanted him dead while he was in the dungeon of the State Security Service (SSS). I hope that he has learnt appropriate lessons.
As a lawyer, I have never had cause to make a public statement about a person that I have represented in the course of my professional career.

It is with a heavy heart and for the sake of my integrity and posterity, that I have issued this statement.
Silence on my part may be construed and interpreted as endorsement of that perfidious conduct.

Since this scandal became public, I have waited to no avail, for over a week, to hear from Kufre. I called him over the phone before issuing this statement without a response.
He may probably think that he does not owe me an explanation, let alone apology. All the same, my position on issues like this should not be in doubt. It is not personal, it is a matter of principle.
I'm not making this statement in my professional capacity as counsel to Kufre Carter, I'm speaking out as a citizen who has consistently held governments at federal, state and local level accountable.
I cannot be seen or perceived to have abandoned the values that I have fought for all my life at this point.

Inibehe Effiong
24th October, 2020.

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More from @InibeheEffiong

26 Oct
REQUEST FOR CCTV RECORDS OF LEKKI TOLL GATE ATTACK

I've requested @jidesanwoolu to furnish me with the following:

1. Authenticated Copies of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) records showing the attack on #EndSARS Protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020; ImageImage
2. Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Instrument setting up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses & Lekki Toll Gate Incident with its Terms of Reference; and
3. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Instrument, Order or Directive under which a revised Curfew was declared and imposed in Lagos State which took effect by 9:00PM on October 20, 2020.
Read 8 tweets
20 Oct
GOVERNMENT AIDING THUGS TO CAUSE VIOLENCE, DISCREDIT ENDSARS PROTESTS

The escalation of coordinated attacks on peaceful #EndSARS in Abuja, Edo, Lagos and other parts of the country by armed thugs and other criminal elements gives credence to the desperation of the federal
and state governments to use every conceivable primitive, unlawful and extra-judicial means to discredit and scuttle the genuine agitations of aggrieved protesters.
Predictably, recent attacks on police stations in Edo and Lagos States have been cited by governors of these States as a basis for imposing questionable curfews. One can reasonably infer, that these attacks are ostensibly sponsored by persons who are sympathetic to the government
Read 16 tweets
16 Oct
I want to use this medium to thank everyone that responded to our call to help Associate Professor Inih Ebong financially. The response has been impressive and commendable. Special thanks to @CletusUkpong, @Musikilu and @PremiumTimesng for continuously rising to the occasion.
Without them, some of us would not have heard about the plight of Dr Ebong.

I am not going to be specific at this point on the amount raised. Please, you can also send your contribution.
According to his medical report, “Recent 2D Echo showed that all cardiac chambers were dilated with very poor left ventricular systolic function with ejection fraction of 35 % in a setting of severe mitral regurgitation.
Read 9 tweets
15 Oct
The Sowore that I have known closely for about a decade, is the last person in this country that can be compromised. For anyone to now paint a man who has spent the last 30 years of his life fighting for a better Nigeria as the enemy of the people is offensive. It's unacceptable.
You can always disagree with his strategy respectfully. We are all victims of elite manipulation. The Buhari regime wants you to see him as your enemy. They have told you that because he contested election, he has no right to demand for a better country. Does that make sense?
If only you can hold politicians who have ruined this country to the same standard you are holding Sowore. You keep saying that he should not talk about Revolution Now. Isn't that a matter of semantics? What is going on now is a revolution. Read more about what a revolution is.
Read 11 tweets
11 Oct
PROTEST BY LAWYERS TO GO AHEAD

A group of lawyers in Lagos State have resolved to go ahead with their planned protest on Tuesday. Despite the "dissolution" of SARS by the Inspector General of Police, journalists and peaceful protesters were violently attacked in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr. Sapara Williams, the first indigenous Nigerian Lawyer rightly posited that "a lawyer lives for a direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country". It will be a capitulation from that cause if lawyers do not take a stand against attacks on citizens.
Lawyers are among the most tormented victims of police corruption, brutality, impunity and reckless disregard for the rule of law. The late sage, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, will be turning in his grave if the voice of Nigerian lawyers is not hear at this historic time in our country.
Read 8 tweets
11 Oct
I do not think the protesters in Ogun State will be charged for murder as reported by some of our comrades. Murder is a capital offence. By practice, it the Ministry of Justice, not the police, that prosecutes murder cases. Before this can be done, a Legal Advice must be written.
The Advice must recommend prosecution. During my youth service, Ministry of Justice was my PPA. I used to write Legal Advice. I don't think this can be done & approved before Monday given the bureaucracy involved. The DPP must approve it. In sensitive cases, the AG must approve.
I also know that under the Administrative of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State 2018, the police cannot undertake such cases at the High Court without the AG.

My preliminary assessment is that the police will either charge them with lesser offences, or seek detention order(s).
Read 4 tweets

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