Drama in court as ACP admits arresting peaceful protesters

It was learnt that Abibo, who ordered the arrest of the protesters on January 23, 2017 for constituting themselves into nuisance, breach of public peace, contradicted himself in the court on the issue of whether the protest was peaceful and devoid of any public disturbance or not. According to Charge No: MU/314…C/2017, the case has the Commissioner of Police against Eno-Obong Eshiet, ‘m’, aged 30 years; Benson Benjamin, ‘m,’ aged 45 years, and Utibe Okon, ‘m’, aged 25 years. Abibo, cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, added that the placards which the protesters bore did not contain any inciting statements that could provoke violence. Answering question from Effiong whether the protesters constituted themselves into nuisance during the protest on Thursday, Abibo first said ‘Yes’ before ‘No’, even as he admitted that he had no right to arrest the people, who were on peaceful protest. The ACP assured the defence counsel that he would no longer arrest any group of persons, who embarked on a peaceful protest during his remaining years in the police. It was gathered that Abibo had spent 25 years in service. There were jeering and uncontrollable laughter mocking Abibo over his incoherence, leading to large amount of contradiction during cross-examination. The five counts, which was later reduced to two, read, “That you Eno-Obong Eshiet, ‘m’, aged 30 years; Benson Benjamin, ‘m’, aged 45 years, and Utibe Okon, ‘m’, aged 25 years, and others now at large on the 23rd day of January, 2017 at Akwa Ibom State Government House Main Gate, Uyo in the Uyo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to carry out unlawful purpose to wit conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 55 (1) (f) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000. “That you Eno-Obong Eshiet, ‘m,’ aged 30 years; Benson Benjamin, ‘m’, aged 45 years, and Utibe Okon, ‘m’, aged 25 years, and others now at large on the 23rd day of January, 2017 at Akwa Ibom State Government House Main Gate, Uyo in the Uyo Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in manner likely to cause breach of peace by constituting yourselves as nuisance at the Government House and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 286 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000.” The court, which was presided over by Chief Magistrate Johnson Martins, acceded to Police prosecutor, Inspector Glory’s request for adjournment for lack of evidence. The case was, however, adjourned till October 13, 2017. The next-of-kin to late primary school teachers in Akwa State (1991-to-date) were protesting peacefully over the non-payment of their late parents’ gratuities by the state government when they were arrested and charged to court. Our correspondent, who also monitored the protest along with other journalists, observed Abibo threatening to beat up journalists as well as destroy their tools. Both the protesters and the journalists were chased away from every area near Government House, including the streets along Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.]]>