Police Arrest Former IPAC Chairman Who Demanded Suspension Of Defence Minister Matawalle

The Nigerian Police have apprehended Goddie Akpama, the former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State. Akpama was arrested for advocating the suspension and arrest of Bello Metawalle, the Minister of Defence.

Akpama was whisked away at 5 pm on Thursday at Chibese Restaurant Calabar, the venue where his group, The National Movement for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance, was about to hold a press briefing.

The policemen arrived at the scene just before the commencement of the news event and ordered that it be put off and they arrested Akpama, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA.

The group, in its prepared statement, expressed worry that the minister was facing staggering money laundering allegations exceeding N70 billion without undergoing the requisite investigations.

The group frowned at the apparent bias in dispensing justice.

They called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate that the government was not one-sided and demanded that just as Dr Betta Edu was suspended and subjected to investigation over N585 million lodged in a private account, Matawalle should be suspended too.

“We assert our collective demand for justice and equity within the political sphere. We express profound concern regarding the discernible bias in dispensing justice and the evident gender disparities prevailing in Nigeria’s political landscape.

“While we commend the expeditious actions taken against Dr Betta Edu, we are confounded by the continued tenure of Minister Bello Matawalle, who is facing staggering money laundering allegations exceeding N70 billion without undergoing the requisite investigations.”

The policemen, who came from the State Housing Police Division, had refused to release the politician-cum-activist nor explain the reason for his arrest.