Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, yesterday, in response to a letter from Counsel to Leader of Niger Delta Vigilante Movement, Mr Tom Ateke, said Ateke was not a wanted man.
Ateke’s Counsel, Honourable Uche Onyeaguocha, had written to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General, State Security Services, on the status of his client.
The clarification, which was made at the resumed hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by Justice Kayode Eso, came through one Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Henry Njoku, who represented Okiro, and stated that the Federal Government has not declared Ateke wanted.
This may pave way for the appearance of Ateke before the Commission, to answer to some of the allegations made against him in the crisis in Okrika, and other parts of the Niger Delta.
Both the police and the Joint Task Force had at various times, declared Ateke wanted and even placed a N5 million reward to any person with useful information that might lead to his arrest and prosecution.
Following the appeal by Eso, that militants holed up in the creeks should appear before him to give evidence for a lasting peace to be achieved in the state, Onyeaguocha wrote to relevant security authorities demanding clarification on whether his client was a wanted man or not.
“Police is not opposed to Ateke appearing before the Commission, because police has not declared him wanted or issued a warrant of arrest on him,” Njoku said.
Apparently for the avoidance of doubt, Justice Eso put the question again to Njoku, “is he a wanted person or not? To which he responded, “No my Lord. Based on assurances of IGP, application is granted that Ateke is not a wanted person by police. He can come and go back.”
Eso then declared that it was now clear that Ateke was a free man that can move freely, as he can “come and go.”
Sep182008