Mr Victor Ojei, a human rights activist in Delta State has criticized the police in Delta state for allegedly selling off bikes totaling about 2.500 without recourse to due process.
Mr Ojei noted that his organization, General Young Nigeria Organization is working in tandem with other leaders previously making frantic efforts to effect the recovery of the impounded bikes.
He said, “Over 2,500 motorcycles belonging to the Okada riders were seized during that time. The motorcycles were subsequently taken to the State Police headquarters, where they were impounded.
“The command was to take charge of safekeeping, pending further action. According to our investigation, which was corroborated by our moles in the State Police Command, few months later, the CP allegedly sold off all the seized motorcycles, which were all lawful personal belongings of the struggling commercial riders in Asaba.
“We are concerned that those motorcycles were corruptly disposed of, without any lawful court forfeiture process, amounting to fraud, economic livelihood destruction, and breach of fundamental human rights, targeted at a particular tribe.
“We are more concerned that such reckless actions of the Police under the leadership of CP Abaniwonda, is eroding of public respect and trust for law enforcement.
“Our organisation was privy to seek dialogue and recover the seized motorcycles through peaceful engagement and mutual understanding.
“However, they were denied audience, obviously due to a premeditated conspiracy to sell off the motorbikes in the black market, which is serious act of fraud, financial crime and punishable thievery under the Nigerian ACJA, ICPC and EFCC Acts, respectively.”
However, the police through the spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, explained that the seized bikes were impounded on the strength of the ban of Okada riding in the state.
He said, “There was no time those bikes were sold nor auction. It wasn’t sold but confiscated by the State Government after all due process.
