...urges AGF, SGF, others to begin investigation into the matter
A prominent oil magnate and business tycoon, Jim Okolo, has accused personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) of infringing on his human rights.
The businessman alleged that he was unlawfully “kidnapped” , detained and harassed by DSS officials without just cause on the 22nd of December, 2020.
Okolo, who spoke exclusively to CURRENT TIMES on the matter, spewed details on the events that led to his supposed mistreatment at the hands of the security agency.
Okolo claims that he was held in custody for several hours without being informed of the reasons for his detention or allowed access to legal representation.
He further alleged that he was subjected to verbal abuse and physical intimidation during his time in DSS custody.
His words: “Sometimes in 2016, there was this guy Mr. IK Eze; he works with Mr. Arthur Eze, he approached me on knowing that I was close to the General Managing Director, GMD, of NNPC, that if I can help or assist one of their family friends whose name is Engr. Emeka Okwuosa, that if I can just link him up, link them up so that they can do their business that he is pursuing something with NNPC for a while.
“So I obliged. He took me to the man at Transcorp Hilton, we went to the man’s suite so we discussed it and the man pleaded with us. I was there with a friend of mine, Barr. Nnamdi Ezige. So, the man begged us to assist him and him up with the late GMD.
“So, we did by taking the man to the NNPC. Initially, we took him to one lady they call Esther Nnamdi Ogbuehi, But, unfortunately, Esther couldn’t see him immediately because Esther was busy. So, Esther now asked for the man’s company profile so that she will relate it to whoever. So, Esther took the company profile. Basically, after that I took the man to the late GMD.
“The former GMD also took his profile as well. So, sometime in 2020, this contract came out. The contract is tagged AKK gas’s pipeline. Well, my friend called me to tell me because I didn’t even know. So, it was Ezige that called me that the contract was out, that if we should go and meet Engr. Okwuosa. So, I reached out to Engr Okwuosa and he told me to come to Transcorp.
“So, I met him in Transcorp so he told me I shouldn’t worry that he will see how he can include me in the project, either he gives me sub contracts or some money. So, one day he called me to come to his house, I went and he asked me to repeat the visit the following week. After one week, I came and called him. I couldn’t find him and he didn’t take my calls.
“So, down the line close to Christmas of that 2020, I think on the 22nd of December, I was coming from the airport heading towards Hilton in the night early around 11pm and certain cars double crossed me: one was at the front and one at the back.
“And armed men just came out, they were putting on black and black and they covered their faces fully hooded and came to my car and took me into their call while they drove my car to a certain place. So, when we went there, I discovered it was DSS FCT command. So, they took me into one room and kept me there.
“They didn’t talk to me until the next day around 1pm. They took me to one office where one Mr. Bashiru, who is now late, wanted to see me. So, he was asking me if I know one Engr Okwuosa and I said yes. So, he said the Okwuosa said he doesn’t know me and that I should stop disturbing him.
“I replied that I had a civil relationship with him in business. So, why would he warrant this kind of attack on my person, violating my rights as a Nigerian. I am a full Nigerian like them so why would they do that?
We’re not living in a country where we operate with the military kind of government that you cannot talk to, you can not express yourself in business. I’m a businessman, this is what I used to eat and feed my family. So, how can they come to shut me up? And try to block my business? So, how did they want my family to cope?
“So, when I left them, I left them after two nights. Then, I told my lawyer what happened. So, my lawyer took them to court for fundamental rights. In that suit he included the director DSS, FCT command, he included Emeka Okwuosa and his company, Oilserve, as the respondent and I was the complaint, among others. And my lawyer slammed them for damages of 500 million for fundamental human rights.
“So since then, the case has been on. A Lot of people have been reaching out to me that I should withdraw the matter from the courts. If not, they will charge me for things that I don’t know. I didn’t listen to them. They decided to trump up charges at different courts against me. They have also been going to the media blackmailing me
“So, these are the things I’ve been facing just because I tried to challenge my fundamental rights at the court, on how I was treated by certain people. So, I was wondering if I am not part of Nigerians that have the right to challenge my rights? So I am really not happy with the way things are going. They have not called me in a civil way for me to drop the matter, instead they are trying to coerce me through all manner of charges in different courts so that I can withdraw my case against them.
“Now, they are now using one Mr. Edwin Iheanacho to propagate all these ill treatment against me because he is the investigation officer for the case as a result of the death of the other guy. But the way Edwin has taken it so personal to the extent that Edwin came to the court where I was being tried over one of those trumped up charges against me and picked me from the court, without invitation and without warrant just the same way they kidnapped me the first time. He repeated the same thing again and kept me in custody for another four nights.
“So, I just want the world and the nation to hear about this injustice happening to innocent civil beings that are supposed to be part and partakers of our own country.”
His plea
He said that efforts to get the attention of the National Human Rights Commission, has proved abortive as they refused to reply to his petitions.
Furthermore, the oil magnate has since reached out to top government officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to seek redress for the violation of his rights.
Among other things, the petition titled, ILLEGAL ARREST, DETENTION, INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT BY ONE MR ADO MU’AZU (THE DIRECTOR DSS FCT COMMAND. ABUJA) AND ONE MR BASHIR ISMAIL (DSS OFFICER) AS THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE (UNLAWFULLY) INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY ONE SIR EMEKA OKWOUSA THE CEO OF THE OILSERV LTD. PORT HARCOURT. RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA!!!, pleaded with the Executive Secretary of the Commission to ask the Director of the Department of State Services, FCT Command Abuja to provide more details on how, when and where he received the “complaint” from Sir Emeka Okwuosa to arrest Hon Okolo.
In his plea for justice, Okolo emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of their status or background.
He urged the authorities to investigate the actions of the DSS personnel involved in his case and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.