My brother’s health is devastating everyday-Ofonime Ukpanah cries out

* We have left our father’s murderers in the hands of God 
* NGO joins release Odudu Ukpanah campaign
* Mass protest hits Uyo tomorrow

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

Ofonime Ukpanah, the sister to Odudu Ukpanah that was arrest and remanded in Ikot Ekpene prison custody for some months now, has said his brother’s health condition in the prison is getting worst as the day passes by. Odudu Ukpanah was arrested after his late father; Chief Albert Ukpanah was murdered in cold blood at his residence sometime last year.

Ofonime Ukpanah made this known last Saturday during an advocacy visit to Civil Liberty Organisation, an NGO as well as newsmen in Uyo.

She said her father was assassinated by unknown assassins immediately he returned from a meeting in Government House and wondered why his brother Odudu Ukpanah was framed up and was arrested of being responsible of her father’s dead.

She said ever since Odudu was arrested and further remanded in the prison custody, all efforts by the family and relation to get his brother released have proved abortive, as those handling the case had hinted them several times that Odudu’s detention is a directive from the powers that be in Government that he should remain in the prison custody. 

  
While pleading for his brother’s release, Ofonime disclosed that her mother’s heath also has been going down on daily basis as well and that if Odudu doesn’t gain freedom as soon as possible, Akwa Ibom State may lose both her mother and her brother due to their devastating health conditions. 

   
On the rumour that her father was killed by his brother in other to get the 2 million naira that was given to his father by Governor Akpabio, Ofonime said “ Odudu my brother never kill his father, which is being rumoured that he broke our door, kill my father in other to get the 2 million naira, the so called 2 million naira that was given to my father by Governor Godwill Akpabio, nobody knew about it”. She said.

Speaking further, she said though her family members had left the killers of her father into God’s hand, she wondered that even when Akpabio heard of her father’s assassination, the Governor never show any concern until three days to the burial. According to her “Akpabio never show any concern, he only paid us a condolence visit on Tuesday while the burial was to take place on Saturday same week, the Governor never inform us of his coming, i only heard of his coming about 10 minutes before his arrival”.

In the said condolence visit, Ofonime while narrating the story quotes Govenor Akpabio as saying “people have been accusing me of killing your father Chief Albert Ukpanah. How can i kill my friend when i had given him 2 million that same day?”

Ofonime while using the opportunity to remind Governor Akpabio of his promised during the burial that he will bring the killers of her father to book, she also appealed to the Governor to use his good office and power to set free her brother Odudu even as she accused some of her cousins who are benefit from the present administration of not helping matters.

Responding, the Chairman of Civil Liberty Organisation, Barrister Clifford Thomas assured the family that he will do everything humanly possible in collaboration with other Human Right Defenders to ensure Odudu is freed before the end of January. He called on the cooperation of the media as well as other good citizens of the state to join hands in fighting and campaigning for the release of Odudu

However, THE INK gathered that Odudu’s friends, associates as well as family members have concluded plan to storm the streets of Uyo tomorrow 7 January, 2015 with placards for a protest.