The Delta State Coordinator of a pro-democracy and human rights group, Take It Back(TIB), Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho has petitioned the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, saying he is planning to frame him up or possibly kill him in his attempt to investigate the allegations of child trafficking, banditry and terrorism levelled against him by the group.
This is contained in a petition signed and sent to Our Correspondent in Warri by Aghogho.
Aghogho recalled that, on/about February 2022, CP Ari Mohammed Ali had claimed to have rescued 22 children from street begging suspected to be from South-East states of Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi from suspected child traffickers in Warri amongst others and these children were subsequently trafficked outside the state without the approval of the Family Court of Delta State.
It will be recalled that Comrade Aghogho in a video message that has gone viral has alleged the Delta State Commissioner of Police of child trafficking, banditry and terrorism and is responsible for the disappearance of over ten thousand children from Delta State.
Vide a Police invitation letter which emanated from the office of the Area Commander Burutu, dated 5/04/2022 titled “Police invitation letter” addressed, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho reads in parts “Your attention is needed in this office in connection with a case of fact-finding, you are hereby requested to report here on the 7th day of April 2022 at about 100hours. You will pleased bring along with you copy of this letter. On your arrival you will report to the Area Commander”.
It was observed that the said Police invitation letter was bereft of the offence allegedly committed by Aghogho and the name of the Petitioner to the Police and a ploy to frame up Aghogho or possibly kill him.
Accusing the CP further, “the Delta State CP is now posing as a threat to life of Aghogho and this trend is worrisome because no one should be a judge in their own cause, it’s one of the cardinal rules of natural justice that no one should act as a judge in a case in which they have a personal (vested)interest”, Aghogho said.
But in a related development, the Inspector –General of Police who had acknowledged the Petition dated 18/3/2022 written by Take It Back(TIB) movement, Delta state Chapter containing the allegations of the 22 children allegedly trafficked by the Delta State CP in February 2022 and another case involving one Jamila Shagari ‘F’ ‘16years’ in 2021 and vide a letter dated 26th march, 2022 referenced CZ: 7050/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.143/143 has subsequently ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone ‘5’ Headquarters Benin to review the allegations amongst others, against Delta CP and furnish him with report.
However, Aghogho who re-echoed the powers of the Family court of Delta State has said that, the Family Court of Delta State was established under Section 142 of the Delta State Child’s Rights Law 2008 and Section 149 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003 respectively and has exclusive and unlimited jurisdiction to deal with cases relating to custody of children as nobody has the power to transfer any child from Delta State without the approval of the Court.
Aghogho has accused the CP of abducting children with trump up allegations with the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force and trafficking them through officials of the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs in contravention of the provisions of Child’s Rights Act 2003 and the Delta State Child’s Rights Law 2008 respectively thereby circumventing the Family Court of Delta State who has the exclusive powers in granting custody of children.
CP Ali reacts
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali has reacted to the allegations levelled against him by the human rights activist.
In a telephone chat with Our Correspondent on Friday morning, CP Ali said, “This is a man that had a problem with somebody. He was to be charged to Court for alleging somebody, a lawyer of child trafficking. Having listened to them, I downplayed the matter in his favour.
“This same man went into the internet, scandalize my name that am trafficking on children. It’s a very good allegation but he has to establish it. He must establish it. He must tell me those children that he said am trafficking on. I am prepared to face him. The Onus is on him.
“He should go to the law Court and tell the Court this is what the CP Delta is doing and go there with his fact handy.
“It’s not for you to sit down and go into the internet to scandalize anybody.
“Let that hopeless man tell you the name of a child not to talk of children that I, Muhammed have trafficked on.
“Let him tell the world where the children I trafficked on. Where did I take the children to? Is it to my village? Did I take them outside Delta? Who did I sell to? Let him tell you.
“If he is afraid of coming to meet me, he should go to the law Court. I am prepared to get a lawyer to follow him up. Why is he going for media trial? He should talk to human rights. He is an activist. International human right commission, let them drag me there. It’s not for him to sit down in his room and concort a video and upload into the internet to damage my reputation he doesn’t know. I want him to establish that.
“Now he said I want to kill him. That’s another weighty allegation. Who did I send to kill him? If policemen are going to his place, does it mean I am the one that’s chasing him up and down with police?”.
CP Ali commended DAILY POST Correspondent for hearing his side of the story.
He said, “let me commend you for your professionalism in Journalism. Am happy that you called me not just being an arm-chair journalist that will sit down and listen to one side of the story and take it upon himself for whatever reasons.
“It gladdens my heart actually that you called at least to hear my own side of the story. I am not that kind of person you will sit down and frame me over a weighty allegation.
” If he has a case against me, there are various avenues to explore. That man must the world and apologize for the wrongs done against me. That’s what I want from him. He has to apologize. Indeed, he is a pathological liar. He will not go scot-free. Tell him I challenge him to go to the law Court and stop the media trial to prove his case.”
