Royal Father writes Gov Otu, over alleged detention of Ayade’s ex-Aide

Ntue-Atue (Dr) Emmanuel Oru Ojong, Paramount Ruler of Etung Local Government Area, has written Governor Bassey Otu over the alleged detention of former Governor Ben Ayade’s SA on Cocoa Allocation, Dr Oscar Ofuka.

The letter titled “My Reaction To The Alleged Illegal Arrest and Detention of Dr Oscar Ofuka, Former Aide To Governor Ben Ayade” reads:

Your Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu,

My Reaction To The Alleged Illegal Arrest and Detention of Dr Oscar Ofuka, Former Aide To Governor Ben Ayade

With richly deserved honour to your person and the high profile national office you occupy, I, Ntue-Atue (Dr) Emmanuel Oru Ojong, reinstated Paramount Ruler of Etung Local Government Area, by the High Court of Cross River State vide suit No: HC/96/2022 of March 23, 2023, following ill-fated conspiracy by a misguided clique to unseat me, feel a duty and morally bound to react to the alleged illegal arrest and detention of Dr Oscar Obi Ofuka, one-time state political appointee from Etung Local Government Area, in charge of Cocoa Development and control.

In earnest, I can hardly stem the rush of apprehensive complainants eager to see the immediate release of Dr Oscar Ofuka, a former Special Adviser to the Governor on Cocoa Development and control in the immediate past administration of the Cross River State.

Everywhere is apparently awash with disquieting reports of his molestation that constitutes a gross violation of his fundamental human rights by security and government functionaries.

Besides, his reported surreptitious transfers from one security facility to another which has resulted his nervous breakdown is another mounting cause for concern amidst widespread suspicion of a planned extra-judicial attempt on his life. It is a chilling thought!

The frenzied scenarios orchestrated by the abductors of Dr Oscar Ofuka have unavoidably raised the sensitive issue to a dire speculative realm about his personal safety, yet many more who are infuriated about the situation appear unable to hold back their fear of the likely consequences if his safety is not guaranteed.

To the best of my knowledge, your Excellency, still many more people would consider any attempt to link the name of Dr Ofuka or that of any member of his family to the recent murder of one of the workers in the government-owned cocoa estate is absolutely outlandish, ill-motivated, grossly unfounded, trumped up and a political witch hunt. Dr Oscar Ofuka is absolutely devoid of any criminal record.

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There is no gainsaying that Ofuka had discharged his duties in the capacity officially conferred upon him following the directives clearly defined by the immediate past administration of the Cross River State under which he had served concerning cocoa farm allocations without incident.

If by accident of history Dr Oscar Ofuka found himself in association with a government set-up to clear long-standing arrears of rents and royalties owed the Cocoa Landlord Communities in Etung LGA for sixteen years through a special arrangement to which the Attorney General of the Cross River State, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) are co-signatories; then the ongoing harassment and torments to which he is being subjected to is outrageous, grossly misplaced and absolutely unacceptable. Death is not the price he should pay for a job more than well done

The CONSENT JUDGEMENT to which the aforesaid arrangement alludes to is appropriately deemed an inherited commitment, legally binding on the incumbent administration of the State by law since government by its very structures and functioning is a continuum.

I wish to state categorically that the initial bloc payments of the arrears of rents and royalties amounting to over Thirty-seven (37) Million Naira have been paid to all the Cocoa Landlord Communities involved who can attest to it, besides, documentary evidence to that effect is available and can be produced on request if need be.

Your Excellency, unless there is factual evidence to invalidate my assumption, I am in earnest inclined to think that as a lawmaker in which capacity you once served our great nation you cannot knowingly condone the abuse of office being perpetrated against innocent Dr Oscar Ofuka by some government and security operatives.

It is on that score that I am fervently appealing for your kind intervention against the backdrop of overwhelming calls for the immediate unconditional release of Dr Oscar Ofuka.

Thank you.

Accept the expression of my highest consideration and personal esteem.

HRM Ntue-Atue Dr Emmanuel Oru Ojong