A Bayelsa-based human rights group, Bayelsa Citizens Vanguard, yesterday faulted the decision of the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson to arrest and prosecute over 25 senior staff of the state civil service.
The arrest was over their alleged involvement in the N6 billion wage bill scam in the state, saying the arrest and continued detention of such civil servants without option of bail is illegal and a violation of their fundamental human rights.
The State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, through his Senior Special assistant on Media and public affairs, Daniel Iworiso-Markson dismissed the claims of the group and declared that the continued refusal of the police to grant bail to the arrested workers of the State was not the prerogative of the state government.
The rights group, in a statement issued by its state coordinator, Ebikabiola Torubeni, argued that the detention of the suspected corrupt officials of the state civil service for over 21 days without the option of bail was illegal and a clear violation of constitutional provisions.
According to the group, “it is shocking to observe and see that the State Governor, who is a lawyer and a former federal lawmaker, could perpetuate this sort of illegality of this magnitude as the police continue to give excuses that the governor has not given his nod to grant bail to the suspects allegedly involved in the wage bill scam.
“Some of the people involved in the alleged corrupt practices at the State Universal Basic Education Board were released on bail through a mere phone call from a highly- placed woman in the Presidency while others languish in police detention.