We act as solicitors to HENRY IMASUEN who shall herein be simply referred to as our client throughout the context of this statement.
Our client was recently arrested by a Police Detective on 27th October, 2024 and has been in detention at the Igbuobazuwa Police Division over alleged gay-related involvements and engagements in activities associated with the LGBTIQ+ community which the Nigerian law greatly opposes.
While we must appreciate and commend the willingness and effort of our Security operatives and law enforcement agencies to combat same-sex relationships in the South-South region of Nigeria and the country at large, which has led to the apprehension of our client and one MR. ARHONWMAN DANIEL OSULA, we must take into cognizance a crucial factor pertaining to one CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU, who is a founding member and key leader of the U and Me Alliance Network (U-MAN), an organization where same-sex activities are allegedly promoted.
It is important at this point to note that our client and the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU are friends who met in South Africa and they have been in good terms over time owing to one or more businesses they must have successfully engaged in.
Sources revealed that the wife (now ex-wife) of the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU provided information to the police about her ex-husband and the information she provided boils down to her ex-husband, CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU having an immoral affair with our client hence our client was arrested to be tried as a bait by the Police to pull the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU who is currently out of the country, out of his hideout. Apparently’, he may be under over hiding away from the eyes of the security agencies.
Reliable sources further clarified that the alleged same-sex immoral and heinous acts of the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU cost him his marriage as his wife, Dorothy Ndobu (now ex-wife), did not hesitate to process the dissolution of their marriage due to the shattered trust between them, with accusing fingers pointing to him as the cause. The marriage was childless as the couple was unable to give birth since their marriage, leaving a trail of emotional upheaval in its wake and he was banned by his community from participating in any activities in his hometown in Agbor, Delta State.
It is almost an established fact that the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU is a prominent figure in the advocacy for LGBTIQ+ rights through his U-MAN organization. As a real estate agent and marketer, he has taken it upon himself to actively promote discussions and activities surrounding homosexuality and other societal issues often labelled as immoral. The fact remains that most of the likes of the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU who are members of the said organization have been westernized and have brought these acts of homosexuality that are strange to our culture and traditions.
We are fully in support of our law enforcement agencies to combat this heinous act however the rule of law should be properly followed in sensitive cases like this. We must not fail to acknowledge the fact that the information provided to the police against our client and the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU with respect to their relationship is from an aggrieved party (Dorothy Ndobu) whose side of the story may be biased. The Police cannot draw conclusions based on Dorothy Ndobu’s story that our client is in a sexual relationship with her ex-husband just because they are friends or business partners. If there is sufficient evidence against our client, the police should go ahead to process his arraignment in court where justice shall be judiciously meted out.
The said MR. ARHONWMAN DANIEL OSULA who was apprehended alongside our client by detectives from Iguobazuwa police division on 27th October, 2024 also escaped police custody and believed to be currently on the run till this day even though he has been declared wanted by the Edo State Police Command.
We are equally aware of the public notice issued by same Edo State Police Command declaring CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU and one other TIMOTHY OSARUMWENSE wanted. However, it is indeed a cause for concern that while MR. ARHONWMAN DANIEL OSULA has escaped custody and MR. CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU is walking freely within the shores of another man’s land, our client is being kept in police custody beyond reasonable investigative timeline and is yet to be brought before a court. Despite persistent efforts to secure his bail, the police have continued to deny his release with claims that without him, the said CHIKA DANIEL NDOBU cannot be brought to book.
At this junction and in view of the above, we are calling on the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Iguobazuwa Police Division to critically look into the matter and use his good office to facilitate the immediate release of our client who is apparently enduring significant hardship and could be at risk while in detention. Our client has been in custody long enough and by now should be brought before the court or be given the privilege to exercise his bail rights.
