Okowa’s Arrest: Innocent until proven
guilty – Bureau Chief
Director General, Delta State Orientation and
Communications Bureau, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that the arrest
of former governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa by the officials of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as reported by a section of the media does
not in any way fracture his enviable reputation.
Dr Oghenesivbe made the assertion on Monday night,
saying that under the legal principle of presumption of innocence, Senator
Okowa may be interrogated and released without criminal prosecution or until
proven guilty by a Court of competent jurisdiction
He noted that EFCC usually invite suspects based on
criminal allegations, which may be true or false, and the Law recognizes the
innocence of all accused persons until proven otherwise.
The Bureau Chief further stated that in the instant
case, former governor Okowa, made himself available to EFCC, and did not
abscond from Nigeria as we are made to understand in somw.cases under
investigation.
Dr Oghenesivbe Latimore, who was Okowa’s Executive
Assistant on Communications from 2017 to May 29, 2023, appealed to the good
people of Delta State, to keep their fingers crossed, pray for Senator Okowa,
adding that he may be innocent at the end of EFCC investigation.
“The news of former governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s
arrest by EFCC is trending on social media platforms based on reports by
section a of the traditional media.
“There is no cause for alarm. It’s an established
procedure in criminal matters to have a suspect arrested based on allegations
in form of a petition to the commission.
“Arrest is not a proof of guilt, and not a judgment by
a Court of competent jurisdiction. The allegations shall be tested in Court or
Courts is the need arises. It’s important for us to keep our fingers crossed.”
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