The Sun News On-line

President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall, Paul Dike, to immediately investigate the incident which led to the beating up in Lagos of a young lady by naval ratings said to be attached to Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade.

Sunday Sun learnt the president was very upset by the incident in which the lady, Miss Uzoma Okere, was reportedly beaten up and stripped naked by the military personnel for allegedly obstructing the admiral’s convoy. The President asked that the report of the investigation be made available to him at the earliest possible time.

Sunday Sun learnt that the president was so saddened by the incident that he vowed that the culprits would not go unpunished to serve as a deterrent to others, expressing disappointment that more than nine years into out democracy, some people were still living in the past.
Describing the development as unacceptable, Yar’Adua was quoted as saying that his administration would not tolerate a situation where some individuals would brutalize their fellow citizens in the name of wielding authority.

He said such an attitude and practice would not have a place in today’s Nigeria.
Since the inception of the present administration, the emphasis has been on the rule of law and order in the society.

When he was contacted on the development, Presidential spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi confirmed it, pointing out that whatever action Yar’Adua takes on the issue would be dependent on the outcome of the investigation by the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Senate Committee on Navy had three days ago asked the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Isaiah Ibrahim to explain to the upper legislative chambers why armed naval ratings would assault the victim who was identified as the daughter of the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly, Col. Emmanuel Okere (Rtd).

The incident which took place on Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted the anger of prominent Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and civil society groups who demanded the trial of the culprits.
Meanwhile, the civil rights community has called on Rear Admiral Arogundade to publicly apologise to Miss Okeren.
The groups also recommended that an appropriate disciplinary action be taken against the officer and gentleman and his ratings for arrogant abuse of power, rank and position to serve as a deterrent to other high-ranking public officials who constantly abuse power and their position.

At a joint press conference addressed by Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, on behalf of the civil rights groups, they said it was not the first time high ranking public officials would, through their overzealous aides, unleash terror on Nigerians.
The groups cited the case of the physical assault of a woman and her two children by the convoy of the Imo State governor on Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and noted that after hitting the woman’s car, the governor’s orderlies, clad in suit, came out of the pilot car, slapped the woman repeatedly in front of her children, slammed the car door against her arm and drove off.

“Even if constitutionally, Nigerian road users are expected to give way to the sirens of certain categories of public office holders, military ranks and emergency service providers, must they be hounded, harassed and physically assaulted?” The group wondered, adding that with the bad roads and traffic situation in a city like Lagos, it was not possible for drivers to immediately park off the road on hearing a siren.

The groups hailed the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who on assumption of office, called for caution in the senseless use of siren by public officials and private citizen, adding that the government should go a step further by making a legislation regulating the use of siren.
While calling for an end to such acts of executive lawlessness and public assault on Nigerians and women in particular, the groups said they would consider taking a legal action to drive home their position if action was not taken now.

It would be recalled that a lady, Uzoma Okere was physically assaulted by naval ratings while the officer, Rear Admiral Arogundade watched on her way back from work on Monday for not parking her car off the road for the convoy of the Rear Admiral.
The beatings resulted in the young lady being hospitalized.