CLO Chides Gov Chime Over Imprisonment Of Labour Leaders

The Civil Liberties Organisation [CLO] Southeast Zone, has decried the extra -judicial trials being used by Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria, in crushing labour leaders and civil society groups in the state through incessant imprisonment of their leaders.

In a press statement signed by the Enugu State chapter secretary, Comrade Zulu Ofoelue, CLO stated that, ‘’he has made a proclamation suspending all the constitutionally provided human rights- rights to freedom of association, of assembly, of expression and of movement.’’

It criticised the unlawful arrest by the police, summary trial at State CID Headquarters and detention at Enugu Prisons, the Unit Chairman of Amalgamated Workers Union at Water Corporation, Enugu, Comrade Festus Ozoeze on 10 January on trumped up charge of conspiracy of planning to engage in acts capable of causing a break down of law and order in the state.

‘’This new order of extra-judicial trial was aimed at suppressing civil and labour activists against the ongoing protests against the fuel subsidy removal and expression of freedom’’.

CLO further recalled that the state government has kept a renowned labour leader in the state, Comrade Osmond Ugwu at the Enugu Prisons since September last year and has denied him bail for mobilising workers over the N18,000 minimum wage.

It also denounced the statement by some southeastern state governments and miscreants “that Ndigbo were comfortable with the subsidy removal”, adding that “it is untrue and meant to deceive the people’’.

The group appealed to the general public, governments and civil society organisations to prevail on Governor Chime to respect the will and right of the people and revert the state to democratic rule.

—Jude Orji/Enugu