What unfolded over the past 24 hours at the FCT Police Command and the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court was nothing short of a troubling display of roguish power, undue pressure, and then resistance by a critical mass of activists around.

The sequence began with an incident involving the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, and a businesswoman and mother, Tracy Nicolas Ohiri, who accused the self-acclaimed powerful minister of owing her N250million and making passes at her while she pursued legitimate path to recover her funds. Following events at the FCT Command Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, during which I confronted Mr. Umahi, it became clear that what had at first appeared to be a simple complaint had evolved into a larger operation involving senior police officers acting under ministerial pressure.

This afternoon, Mrs. Ohiri was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ope Ibrahim at the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, accused of defaming the minister, Engr. David Umahi. When the matter was called, the magistrate heard arguments on bail shortly after Mrs. Ohiri pleaded not guilty to the bogus charges. Despite strong opposition from the police prosecutor, the court granted her bail, stating clearly that the law did not permit her continued detention under the guise of continuous "investigation". 

Two sureties were requested, and we stepped forward to process the bail documentation.

While the paperwork was being finalized, intelligence emerged that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the "IGP Monitoring Unit," Akin Fakorede, had mobilized the legal team to obstruct her release. The prosecution, therefore, returned to the magistrate seeking a remand warrant on the claim that bail conditions could not be met; this was false. 

Almost immediately, correctional officers stationed at the court were called upon to transfer Mrs. Ohiri to the custodial facility in Keffi, Nasarawa.

What followed was intense opposition from members of the Takeitback Movement to what was perceived as an effort to override the court’s bail ruling. Mrs. Ohiri's supporters present at the court also protested the move. The magistrate had indicated that once sureties had necessary papers and IDs the process should proceed. However, when efforts to complete the bail documentation resumed, Mrs. Ohiri’s case file could not be located in the registry, a development that immediately revealed a high-level administrative interference.

The atmosphere escalated further when armed mobile police officers arrived in a van sent from the FCT Command and positioned themselves at the court premises. Concerned about the direction events were taking, I reached out to the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, who intervened as I made it clear that we won't stand for further reckless police connivances to violate the right of Nigerians, the police contingent was then withdrawn from the courtroom, but the Custodial Officers from the Nigeria Correctional Service and their bosses contacted stated that since a remand Order had been obtained they must take custody of Mrs. Ohiri.

Ultimately, the resistance and protest paid off, as it was possible to prevent Mrs. Ohiri’s immediate transfer to Keffi. Arrangements were made to keep her within closer proximity to the magistrates' court to enable the completion of bail formalities at the earliest opportunity tomorrow.

There are now reports that magistrates may not sit tomorrow due to ongoing renovation work at the court complex. Nonetheless, efforts will continue to ensure that Mrs. Ohiri completes her bail process and reunites with her family.