Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Okey Wali, who was abducted on April 17, 2023, has been released by his captors, as reported by the Punch Newspaper. Wali, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was kidnapped at Obiri-Kwere junction on the East-West Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Viktor Benibo, the Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the NBA, confirmed that Wali was released in the early hours of Monday, May 1. However, Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police spokesperson in the State, said she cannot confirm the release yet but promised to issue a statement on the matter later.
On April 17, 2023, Wali was abducted by armed men in Rivers State, as reported by The ICIR. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Rivers Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and said that the police were working towards Wali’s release. The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, clarified the abduction on April 18, 2023, as a sign of the country’s weak security system and pleaded with the abductors to release Wali to his family untouched. He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the River State Police Command to make every effort to secure Wali’s release.
This is the second time that unknown gunmen have abducted Wali. He was previously kidnapped in the Port Harcourt area of Rivers State in October 2014. The NBA, at the time, also pleaded for his immediate release to his family. Wali was released after 13 days in captivity, although it remains unclear if a ransom was paid to secure his freedom.
Wali served as the NBA’s 26th President between 2012 and 2014.
Source: https://www.icirnigeria.org/abduction-of-ex-nba-president-okey-wali-an-indication-of-insecurity-in-nigeria-yakubu-maikyau/
