Ifeanyi Ubah: Ohanaeze to hire 100 layers against DSS as South-East students demand immediate release

www.odogwublog.com reports that Ohanaeze Youth Council has vowed to storm the Lagos High Court with 100 lawyers in solidarity with Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah on May 18 when he is expected to be arraigned by the Department of State Services ( DSS).

OYC has condemned his continued detention by DSS over trade dispute with the Nigeria National  Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC), describing it as an affront against Ndigbo.

The National President of OYC , Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in an interview with our correspondent yesterday in Umuahia, vowed to mobilise Igbo youths to solidarise with Ubah during the next court hearing of the matter in Lagos.

He called on Igbo youths to troop out to Enugu en mass for onward movement to Lagos on May 17.

The OYC helmsman vowed that the umbrella Igbo body would use all legal means to resist any attempt to rubbish or harass any Igbo son or daughter.

He wondered why DSS would resort to media trial of Ubah or assume the role of the court in a matter that was a mere civil transaction.

OYC had earlier in a press statement described Ubah's ordeal as part of the plot to persecute and humiliate illustrious Igbo sons and daughters.

It read in part: "We yet again condemn this endless clamp down on Igbo sons and daughters by federal government agencies.

"It has now become a tradition that no week passes by without either the EFCC or the DSS coming after an Igbo son or daughter.

"It is a sad commentary considering that these persons are always detained for a prolonged period than permitted by law. We condemn a situation where people are detained before investigations are carried out on the issues leading to their arrest.

"To this end, we demand the immediate release of Chief Ifeanyi Ubah. If the DSS is sure he has committed any offence he should be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction.

"We say enough to the persecution of Ndigbo in this country. This idea of silencing every opposing voice will not augur well for our democracy", the youths said.

Meanwhile, the  National Association of SouthEast Nigeria Students (NASENS), has also demanded  Ubah's immediate release.

NASENS in a press statement by Dr. Kingsley Dozie Lawrence described Ubah's detention as illegal , violation of his fundamental rights and an affront against Ndigbo.   

The statement urged the Federal Government to stop treating Igbo sons and daughters as second class citizens, arguing that no section of the country should treated as slaves.
The students body which also fixed its national convention in June called South East political elite to unite against Igbo marginalization.
According to the statement, the National President of the association had been ceded to Abia and Imo States as other states had taken their turns.
NASENS also hailed Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on his Supreme Court victory and for appointing two of their members  as his aides - Comrade Chibuzo Ndom; and Comrade Chinonso Ugorji.
It described Ikpeazu as student's friendly governor and urged him to keep it up.