Activist Recalls How Governor Obaseki Arrested, Charged Him For Treason For Speaking Truth To Power

By Kola Edokpayi

Today makes it 5 Years of my arrest and arraignment for Treasonable Felony on the order of Governor Godwin Obaseki..

Today in History: May 16, 2017, Marxist Kola Edokpayi was arrested and charged with Treason for Speaking Truth To Power.

On Tuesday the 16th day of May, 2017, at about 6 a.m, heavily armed Police Officers from Anti Kidnapping Unit and other units numbering about 50 led by An Assistant Superintendent of Police invaded my House in Benin to arrest me for speaking truth to power..

Governor Godwin Obaseki and the then Commissioner of Police who was presiding over corruption in Edo State Police Command saw me as a threat to their corrupt and oppressive philosophies..

The arrest was sequel to the malicious and bogus Petition written on behalf of Governor Godwin Obaseki and signed by CSP Yusuf Haruna, the then over zealous Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor of Edo State on the 28th day of April, 2017.

Prior to the fateful day, I was and still a vocal critic of the exploitative, extortive, unprofessional conducts and indiscriminate arrest of Edo Youth by Police Officers under the watchful eyes of then Edo Commissioner of Police, CP Haliru Gwandu that was later transferred from the State inline with our agitation for his redeployment.

The positive sins, I committed against Governor Godwin Obaseki was that I was among the Youth Leaders that led protests in Benin that the controversial Gele-gele Community belonged to the Benin people and that the NPDC should complement the efforts of Government by providing jobs for Edo Youth to nip the mass exodus of our youth to Libya in the bud and that the Oil Companies operating in Benin should implement the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

I was arraigned before Magistrate Court on two count charges that bordered on instigating the invasion of Nigeria which is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code and instigating a group of intellectuals some of who are Foreigners to invade Government House and House of Assembly.

The Magistrate declined jurisdiction to hear the matter and ordered in the circumstance that the ACR duplicate the case file and forwarded same to Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice and action.

His Worship also ordered that I should be transferred to Freedom Republic (Oko Prison) pending the legal opinion from DPP.

Barristers Pascal Ugbome, , Daniel Osa-Ogbegie Nosa Adams, Abraham Oviawe , Fidelis Ogun and E. B. Uhumwangho represented me pro bono.

Immediately the Warders took me to Freedom Republic, I was accorded a heroic welcome by Prisoners and Awaiting Trial Inmates which means that those behind bar are really appreciating our fight for justice and equity.

Comrade Austin Osakue, Reverend David Ugolor, Barrister Abraham Oviawe, Reverend Olu Martins, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, Comrade Napoleon Agbama, Lucky Orukpe, Bevy Efe, Baron Mike, Comrade Tony Erha, Prince Terry Ogbeni, Wilson Imasuen and other Revolutionary Comrades addressed the Press to condemn my arrest and arraignment.

Kudos to the Lawyers , Journalists and Comrades and friends that called for my release.

I take solace in the words of Late Dele Giwa that: “No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary.’

Those who conspired to send an innocent man to prison are still suffering the negative consequences today.

@views exclusive rights: Kola Edokpayi, Head, Talakawa’s Parliament, May 16, 2022.