http://www.osundefender.org/?p=21518
The 29 members of Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) prevented by the police in Kogi from traveling to Abuja have demanded an apology from the police.

They vowed to take the police to court. If after 24 hours the police authority fails to apologise without reservation.

Narrating their ordeal yesterday at a news conference in Lokoja, their leader, Chief Ishola Oyewunmi said the police failed to tell them why they were stopped in Lokoja from their legitimate journey to Abuja.

According to the leader, other contingents from other states were seen passing the same route to Abuja for the same meeting, “We don’t know why they stopped us.

“We were stopped on Tuesday night and they asked us to sleep in the bush as we could not go back to Osogbo that night. On Wednesday morning, the state police commissioner ordered his men to escort us outside Kogi state.

“We were on our way to Osogbo when our governor called that we should turn back to Abuja as there was no law stopping movement to Abuja.

As we returned, the same policemen stopped us at the same spot asking us to wait for a order before we could move.

A delay that lasted for over three hours led to the collapse of one of the arrested ACN member who has been complaining of ill-health.

He said: “The questions here are: is Kogi police declaring us a security threat? Is the police saying Osun ACN cannot travel to Abuja. And when has it become a law that someone must explain his mission to Abuja before he is allowed into the FCT?,” he asked.

The ACN leaders in thier Coaster bus marked Osun OSGH 192 was intercepted along Jamata Murtala Muhammed Bridge at about 6 41pm on Tuesday by the police.

He said despite explanation that they were travelling to Abuja for a meeting, the Kogi police command refused to release them as they were asked to go back to Osun.

They therefore called on the police commissioner to tender an unreserved apology within 24 hours, failing which they threatened to drag the police authority to court for unlawful detention and harassment.

Also reacting, the governorship candidate of the ACN in Kogi, Prince Abubakar Audu described the incident as embarrassing and a failure on the part of the nation’s security.

Prince Audu who spoke through his campaign director David Dare urged security operatives to be more concern about the security of lives and properties across the country and to refrain from using the opposition party to cover their inadequacies.

goksonjay:

I don-t understand Beaf-s interest in this kind of unconstitutional act of presidency?

Now that you are in the presidency people who enter Abuja must now pass a "look" test.
I wonder what would happen if someone tries to come to Abuja with no shoes.
And to think "I have no shoe stories" were selling like hot cake only a few months ago.

Beaf:

You mean the police arrest people and the Presidency should be blamed? Come on! Thats stretching things to incredible lengths. I don't for one minute believe that the President cares or even knows about Aregbesola's aluta groups.
However, the police on the other hand, are on the lookout for any rowdy looking groups entering the capital in view of the recent boko haram bombings.

The police have the power to arrest anybody from any party or interest group that look like they are a security risk.