Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), lawyer to Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, has disclosed the reason the Abia South senator was picked up by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday.
He said the reasons were contained in a search warrant obtained by the secret police on June 2, 2018.
Ume said the warrant showed that Abaribe was arrested for gunrunning and supporting a proscribed body (Indigenous People of Biafra).
He said the DSS operatives were empowered by the warrant to “focus and search for arms and ammunition and any other incriminating document, while the alleged crime was aiding and supporting a proscribed body i.e. IPOB.”
He said that acting on the warrant, DSS operatives brought the senator from their headquarters to his (Abaribe’s) house between 5pm and 11pm and searched every nook and cranny of it.
Ume said that at the end of the search DSS operatives returned to their headquarters with the senator, and armed with 27 items that were unrelated to the allegations against him.
“But, unfortunately, two of the 27 items include two handsets of two USA citizens found in the home.
“One of the laptops taken include that of an educationist containing examination questions slated to be set for students on June 25, 2018.
“All pleas for the questions to be copied was refused.”
He added that the senator has also been denied access to his family members, lawyers and doctors.
Ume queried why Abaribe, who was due to appear in court on June 26, 2018, was arrested and kept incommunicado on June 22, 2018.
He said the arrest followed the pattern of Nnamdi Kanu, who was due to appear in court in October 2017 but soldiers invaded his house in September 2017 and he has not been seen ever since.