By DADA AYOKHAI
Auchi social critic Prince M.K.O Momoh has condemned the recent demolition of houses in the Auchi community, describing the state government’s actions as illegal. He has called on the authorities to respect the rights of citizens and adhere to due process in their efforts to combat cultism and other social vices .
Recall the state government recently carried out demolition of houses in Auchi and south ibie community over alleged link to cultism and kidnapping related matters .
In an open letter addressed to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Facebook, Auchi social critic Prince M.K.O Momoh cautioned against plans to demolish buildings suspected of being used by cultists and kidnappers. Momoh urged the governor to consider alternative approaches, emphasizing the need for due process and respect for citizens’ rights.
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According to him Auchi people, are very civilized people in Edo North, “we shall not accept such illegal demolition to happen here. It might have happened else where unchallenged, but it cannot
happen on our soil while we keep sealed lips or fold our arms. That is what define us as Auchi people, we pay attention to details, we respect the supremacy of the rule of law. This is our position
Despite Prince M.K.O Momoh’s cautionary letter, the Edo State Government proceeded with the demolition of suspected cultist hideouts in Auchi and South Ibie.
The demolitions have sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting the government’s efforts to combat crime and others raising concerns about due process and potential collateral damage
In his argument, he emphasized that” A house is simply a building, composed of cement, stones, sand, iron/steal rods etc. It is an inanimate object, a pieces of infrastructure that adds value to the economy or GDP of Edo state, hence it does not and cannot of its own commit an offence because it does not have a freewill like man to be able to choose or make a choice between what is good and what is evil, thus, bringing down a building because a criminal suspect has allegedly committed a crime within the premises of the said property is inherently a dumb response or a wrong decision made, irrespective of how high the authority or official power carrying out such a demolition exercise.”
”The right, correct and most appropriate thing to do is for the government in power to apprehend every criminal suspects and have them prosecuted at the law court and the let justice prevail over the matters. Jungle justice or quick fixes should never be resorted to either by the state or non state actors under whatever guises as a civilized people. We must hold our government accountable, by insisting they do the right thing.”
”I am not unaware that the Edo State house of assembly had passed a law authorizing the executive arm of government to demolish any house under whose premises certain violent crime such as cultism, kidnapping, ritual killing etc had been found to be perpetrated. Fine, this is a good law, but this law is not self executory like the fiscal budget of a State, because it involves the fundamental rights of the citizens with regards freedom, fair hearing, dignity and self worth of the persons who might be suspects of the said crime, which involved both civil and criminal dimensions, requiring a fundamental resort to the law court for final determination before a conviction can be obtained as it affects the individual suspects as well as a final forfeiture of the property to the state may be obtained or otherwise, before the government can proceed forward on these issues.
”Governor Okpebholo or any governor anywhere in Nigeria does not have powers whatsoever under the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended for him or any body or power to unilaterally accuse someone of violating the law and have the person convicted of same crime accused of, and start executing punishment on the accused persons and affected properties without a resort to the judiciary (law courts) for legal or fina determination on the Matter in the rule of law., which is supreme,as the constitutional requirements in order to avoid Carry over of justice.
