A civil rights Non-governmental organization, ‘Access To
Justice’, has reacted to the arrest of Gloria Okolie who has
allegedly been in detention for over 70 days.
![image](/2021/07/Justice-Ejembi-Eko-1.jpg")
![image](/2021/08/lawpNBA.jpg")
In a press statement by Joseph Otteh, Convener and Deji Ajare,
Project Director titled, ‘THE POLICE MUST CHARGE GLORY OKOLIE TO
COURT OR RELEASE HER UNCONDITIONALLY’, the NGO noted that the
whereabouts of the lady was initially unknown until a young man
released from the custody of the Inspector-General of Police,
Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) disclosed same to the
family
![image](/2021/07/escrow-service1.jpg")
The Group said that Gloria’s situation is disturbing. According
to them, the 70 days detention is a violation of her right fair
hearing and a contravention of the Police Act, 2020, and the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The statement reads in part, “On the 17th of June 2021, Glory
Okolie, a young girl of 22 years left home and never returned home,
leaving her family and friends perplexed, especially because it was
not customary of her to keep late nights or sleep outside the
house. The emotional torment from the sudden disappearance of Glory
Okolie continued until late June, 2021, when a young man released
from the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team
(IGP-IRT) disclosed to Glory’s family that she was in the custody
of the IGP- IRT, Tiger Base in Owerri, Imo State, and was made to
cook and clean for the Police Officers. Armed with this new
information, Glory’s parents went to the IGP-IRT office to secure
her release, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Instead, the
Police transferred Glory Okolie to Abuja.
“As the story of Glory’s predicament began to filter out into
public space, it generated public outcry, and individuals and civil
society organisations began to call for the release of Glory
Okolie. This prompted the IGP to order an investigation into the
matter, within a couple of days, and in a rather shocking twist, on
the 22nd of August 2021, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer,
CSP Aremu Adeniran issued a press statement purporting that Glory
Okolie is an informant of the proscribed Indigenous People of
Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN), and labelled her
‘militant spy girl’.
“As an organisation that pursues justice for
everyone, Access to Justice finds Glory’s case to be especially
disturbing because prior to the press release issued by the police
and the allegation slapped on Glory Okolie, she had been detained
for over 70 days without access to legal representation, a clear
violation of her right to fair hearing and a breach of the Police
Act, 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Even more
worrying is the fact that there was no formal or informal
communication made to Glory’s family notifying them of her arrest
since the 17th of June, 2021, giving her arrest and her illegal
detention the appearance of an abduction and enforced
disappearance.”
Therefore, Access to Justice demands that Glory Okolie be
charged to court if the Police have evidence to back their claim or
release her unconditionally.
The Group further calls on the Police Service Commission to
carry out an independent investigation into the integrity of the
police report that says Gloria is a spy to IPOB/ESN and to sanction
all other persons involved in violation of the rights of the
detainee.
Also, Access to Justice “Demands that the National Assembly
should call the IGP to order, and impress on him to ensure that
police officers must be seen to employ due process and work within
the provisions of the law when dealing with the public at all
times.
“Notifies the Inspector-General of Police and the
Attorney-General of the Federation that should there be a delay or
reluctance to take action on this matter, a suit will be filed
against all concerned parties to ensure the enforcement of Glory
Okolie’s fundamental human rights.”
A civil rights Non-governmental organization, ‘Access To
Justice’, has reacted to the arrest of Gloria Okolie who has
allegedly been in detention for over 70 days.
In a press statement by Joseph Otteh, Convener and Deji Ajare,
Project Director titled, ‘THE POLICE MUST CHARGE GLORY OKOLIE TO
COURT OR RELEASE HER UNCONDITIONALLY’, the NGO noted that the
whereabouts of the lady was initially unknown until a young man
released from the custody of the Inspector-General of Police,
Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) disclosed same to the
family
The Group said that Gloria’s situation is disturbing. According
to them, the 70 days detention is a violation of her right fair
hearing and a contravention of the Police Act, 2020, and the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The statement reads in part, “On the 17th of June 2021, Glory
Okolie, a young girl of 22 years left home and never returned home,
leaving her family and friends perplexed, especially because it was
not customary of her to keep late nights or sleep outside the
house. The emotional torment from the sudden disappearance of Glory
Okolie continued until late June, 2021, when a young man released
from the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team
(IGP-IRT) disclosed to Glory’s family that she was in the custody
of the IGP- IRT, Tiger Base in Owerri, Imo State, and was made to
cook and clean for the Police Officers. Armed with this new
information, Glory’s parents went to the IGP-IRT office to secure
her release, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Instead, the
Police transferred Glory Okolie to Abuja.
“As the story of Glory’s predicament began to filter out into
public space, it generated public outcry, and individuals and civil
society organisations began to call for the release of Glory
Okolie. This prompted the IGP to order an investigation into the
matter, within a couple of days, and in a rather shocking twist, on
the 22nd of August 2021, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer,
CSP Aremu Adeniran issued a press statement purporting that Glory
Okolie is an informant of the proscribed Indigenous People of
Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN), and labelled her
‘militant spy girl’.
“As an organisation that pursues justice for
everyone, Access to Justice finds Glory’s case to be especially
disturbing because prior to the press release issued by the police
and the allegation slapped on Glory Okolie, she had been detained
for over 70 days without access to legal representation, a clear
violation of her right to fair hearing and a breach of the Police
Act, 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Even more
worrying is the fact that there was no formal or informal
communication made to Glory’s family notifying them of her arrest
since the 17th of June, 2021, giving her arrest and her illegal
detention the appearance of an abduction and enforced
disappearance.”
Therefore, Access to Justice demands that Glory Okolie be
charged to court if the Police have evidence to back their claim or
release her unconditionally.
The Group further calls on the Police Service Commission to
carry out an independent investigation into the integrity of the
police report that says Gloria is a spy to IPOB/ESN and to sanction
all other persons involved in violation of the rights of the
detainee.
Also, Access to Justice “Demands that the National Assembly
should call the IGP to order, and impress on him to ensure that
police officers must be seen to employ due process and work within
the provisions of the law when dealing with the public at all
times.
“Notifies the Inspector-General of Police and the
Attorney-General of the Federation that should there be a delay or
reluctance to take action on this matter, a suit will be filed
against all concerned parties to ensure the enforcement of Glory
Okolie’s fundamental human rights.”