From Godwin Tsa Abuja
A legal practitioner, Omes Ogedegbe has explained his role in the controversy over the sharing of N80 million released to John Atubi by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, which led to the impounding of his (Atubi) car by the police.
The said amount alongside other valuables belonging to Atubi were seized from him by the Rivers State Police Command.
It was however reported in the Daily Sun of January 2, 2024 that the sharing formula of the said money tore activists apart.
Specifically, the publication was titled: “Delta: Over N80m Police Refund money tear activists apart.”
However, responding to the news report, Omes Ogedegbe clarified that the action between him and John Atubi cannot amount to what the report termed infighting by activists.
The clarification was contained in a letter dated January 8, 2024 and addressed to the Editor In Chief of The Sun, by Igho Ogedegbe.
The letter reads in part: “Omes Ogedegbe was briefed by one John Atubi to question his arrest by police officers in Rivers State command and a fundamental rights action was filed in line with his instruction at the Federal High Court, Warri division.
“That upon the eventual release of the funds, the said John Atubi was no longer accessible on phone while he was yet to settle his legal fees.
“That in view of our inability to reach him and his nonchalance in settling our legal fees, especially upon the report he was relocating out of the court’s jurisdiction, we were left with no other option than to explore all legal options available to us for an absconding defendant.
“That it was at the point of carrying out the order of the court that the victim drove the said car into the Ekpan police station and the police were forced to comply with the court order.
“We were therefore taking aback to have read how you termed same in your January 2, 2024 publication titled: Delta: Over N80m police refund money tear activists apart.”
“The action between Omes Ogedegbe and John Atubi cannot amount to what you termed infighting by activists. “By the said publication, you caused a serious disrepute to the character and the person of Omes Ogedegbe, when you said thus: That Barrister Ogedegbe who was demanding the highest share of the money, had secure a court order requesting the impounding of the victim’s car at the police station pending when his share was paid,”’ the letter read.