Detained environmental activist regains freedom

Detained environmental activist and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Non-Governmental Coalition For Environment (NGOSE), Dr. Odigha Odigha has been released.

His wife, Mrs. Evelyn Odigha, who had earlier accused the Cross River State government of witch-hunting her husband over his anti super highway stance, said he was released at about 7pm on Friday on bail, and was expected back on Monday.

But the Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, Christian Ita, described as ludicrous, attempts to link the governor to the arrest and detention of the former chairman of the state forestry commission, by the police.

Reacting to claims that Odigha’s detention was due to his opposition to the construction of a 260km superhighway, Ita said it was mischievous and preposterous for any right thinking person to make such an inference.

Ita in a release said  “Odigha was arrested by the police on the strength of a petition that alleged fraud and embezzlement whilst the self-styled environmental activist held sway as chairman of the state forestry commission.