DR. CHIGOZIE GENTLE UWAOMA ARREST STORY FROM A CLOSE FRIEND

 

               Dr. Chigozie Gentle Uwaoma

"The story according to a close pal of Dr. Chigozie Uwaoma about his unlawful arrest."

On Wednesday 17 November, 2021 at about 2:09pm, I received a distress call from the refined Gentle Chigozie Uwaoma, a medical doctor and Managing Director of Medlink NG Ltd, currently undergoing his mandatory NYSC program in Bayelsa State.

The officers of United Bank for Africa PLC had frozen his Company account and directed him to approach any of their branches to rectify whatever the issue is.

Upon arrival at the Bank to rectify the issues as directed by the bank, he was rather informed that the officers of the DSS were there to arrest him.

Dr. Gentle quickly called to notify me of the development. 

At about 7.00pm on same Wednesday, I, having made several unsuccessful attempts to reach him over the phone, quickly contacted his PPA who further notified the Bayelsa Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association and the leadership of the NYSC, Yenagoa. 

Upon calling the DSS office, the NMA chairman was reliably informed by an officer of the DSS that Dr. Gentle is in their custody and was allegedly arrested because his Company Account has more than one ATM Cards.

On Thursday, 18 November, 2021, I engaged a colleague lawyer in Bayelsa to enquire into the situation but the young man was denied access to Dr. Gene on grounds that the I.O was not on seat.

On Friday, 19 November, 2021, at about 10.00am, Dr. Gentle's PPA sent some staff of their office to take food and a change of Clothing to him but upon approaching the DSS office, they were denied access also on grounds that they (DSS) were not yet done questioning the young man.

I further engaged another lawyer who arrived the DSS office at about 1.00pm but was shockingly turned back from the gate. At this point, the DSS claimed that there's no such person as Dr. Gentle Chigozie Uwaoma in their custody. 

Up till the moment of this publication, the DSS has refused and/or neglected to allow Dr. Gentle any legal representation.

The DSS has further failed to produce and charge him to Court within the 48 hours permitted under the Constitution for a suspect to be charged to Court if there is any cogent reason for his arrest.

The family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Gentle are under serious apprehension, not being sure if their son, friend and colleague is alive or dead.

I am not aware that having more than one ATM card is a crime under any written law in Nigeria.

I have been Dr. Chigozie Gentle's friend and Colleague for over 4years now and can attest to the fact that he is not involved in any crimes whatsoever. He is a respected and responsible citizen of this country and the DSS as well as any other law enforcement agency here owes him the responsibility to protect and honour his fundamental rights.

I am thus, by this publication, calling on all well meaning and responsible citizens of this country to lend their voice in our pursuit of justice for Dr. Chigozie Gentle.