I Did Not Abduct Chibok Girls To US – Human Rights Lawyer Tells Court
Loading ...An Abuja High Court today heard how, following the failure of the Nigerian embassy in USA to assist the Chibok girls, a Washington-based human rights lawyer was constrained to raise funds for their support.
Under cross examination by the governmentโs defense counsel in a multimillion dollar defamation he instituted against Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Emmanuel Ogebe said in 2015 he had approached the Nigerian embassy in Washington but โwhen the government failed to assist its citizens, as a decent person, I had to raise fundsโ to take care of the Chibok girls which is the โstandard practice of NGOs worldwide.โ
There was a mild courtroom drama when defense counsel asked the plaintiff if he had obtained parental consent before sponsoring 10 Chibok girls abroad.
A visibly irritated plaintiff, Emmanuel Ogebe replied from the stand โI did not abduct the Chibok girls and take them to the US.โ
As defense counsel to the government tried to interrupt his answer saying โyes thatโs not at issueโ, Ogebe replied โI am not a member of Boko Haram and I didnโt abduct the girls. They lawfully exited the borders of Nigeria to the US.โ
When asked if he had proof of parental consent, Barrister Ogebe had prayed the court to oblige him his briefcase from where he tendered an exhibit of the consent.
A palpably perturbed defense counsel then asked why he hadnโt tendered the exhibit previously. โI donโt believe the accusations against me are that I kidnapped the girls. I must have had parental consent to take them out of the country.
Otherwise I donโt know how 10 Chibok girls can leave the shores of Nigeria without the permission of their parents,โ the human rights lawyer replied.
โIt is moot that I am not a member of Boko Haram and I did not abduct them. The lawfully exited the borders of Nigeria.โ He added.
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TRIAL CONTINUESย TOMORROWย MAY 31st IN ABUJA HIGH COURT JABI
Excerpt of Court Diary By Tony Ogebe
