From Vincent Egunyanga in Benin
An appeal has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chief of Army General Azubuike Ihejirika and other well meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure the release of their son Felix Okoye who is being detained by the General Officer Commanding [GOC] 81 division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos.
This appeal was made In Benin on Thursday by Okoye’s aged father Nwakasi Okoye who said his son Felix Okoye had an accident with the GOC 81 division of the Nigeria Army in Lagos.
Narrating what happened Pa Nwakasi Okoye, 80 years old said ‘the accident happened on Friday 7th September 2012 at Tin Can Island, Lagos at about 5pm when his truck Man Diesel accidentally hit the GOC 81 division, Lagos Major General Kenneth Minimah’s car Chrysler 300 tokunbo car, the car had not been registered when the accident happened.’
He said the infuriated General then took Okoye to the Dodan Barracks, Obalende Military guard room when the GOC ordered his detention since Friday without feeding him, he has been feeding himself since then.
He said his son had been denied access to his wife and family members since the date of the accident, his handset seized.
He said even when the driver promised he was ready to repair the General’s car but the GOC was not ready to listen to his plea but insisted ‘the bastard’ will rotten in detention. ‘This is a civil matter not military in nature, it is also illegal to detain a civilian in a military facility, this type of officer is denting the image of the Nigeria Army and the transformation agenda of the Chief of Army.’
He said all entreaties to make the General see reason and release the poor driver to come home to take care of his aged father and sick wife has so far fallen on deaf ears.
An attempt to reach the GOC 81 Div or the Army PRO was unsuccessful.
