Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, the representative of Ahoada West Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, has been released from custody two weeks after his arrest. Sokari was apprehended by policemen outside the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on April 18, 2024.
The lawmaker, who was arrested alongside another PDP chieftain, Ezebunwo Itcemati, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was detained without clear charges. While Itcemati was released shortly after the arrest, Sokari remained in police custody until his recent release.
Confirmation of Sokari’s release came from Jerry Omatsogunwa, the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media. Omatsogunwa described the police action as an aberration, emphasizing that such arbitrary arrests do not align with civilized standards of law enforcement observed globally.
Omatsogunwa stressed the importance of due process in policing, highlighting that in modern societies, investigations are typically concluded before arrests are made. He expressed hope for improvements in policing practices in Nigeria to ensure adherence to legal standards and respect for individual rights.