A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali has been freed by kidnappers who abducted him two weeks ago.
Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was kidnapped on April 17 at Obiri-Kwere junction of the East-West Road, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the NBA Viktor Benibo said Wali was released by his abductors in the early hours of Monday, May 1.
“He is in his house. He was released in the early hours of today (Monday),” Benibo told Punch Newspaper.
The Police spokesperson in the State, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a chat with The ICIR, said she cannot confirm the release yet but promised to issue statement on the matter later.
The ICIR reported that Wali was abducted by armed men on Monday, April 17, in Rivers State.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Rivers Command Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to The ICIR, saying the Police is working towards Wali’s release.
“We are aware of it. It happened along the Obiri Ikwerre area. We are investigating to actualise his freedom,” she said.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 18, President of the NBA Yakubu Maikyau clarified the abduction as a sign of the country’s weak security system and pleaded with the abductors to release Wali to his family, untouched.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the River State Police Command to make every effort to secure Wali’s release.
This is the second time unknown gunmen would abduct Wali.
In October 2014, he was kidnapped by unknown persons in the Port Harcourt area of Rivers State.
The NBA, at the time, also pleaded for his immediate release to his family.
Wali was released after 13 days in captivity, although it remains unclear if a ransom was paid to secure his freedom.
Wali served as the NBA’s 26th President between 2012 and 2014.
