Attorney General Denies Involvement in Chief’s Alleged Abduction
In a dramatic twist to the case of the alleged abduction of Chief Maurice Omin Iso, the traditional ruler of Esuku-Otu, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Cross River State, Ededem C. Ani, has firmly denied any involvement. Iso was reportedly seized from his home on December 21, 2024, sparking widespread claims that he was being targeted for blocking attempts to seize communal lands.
Iso, who has been an outspoken critic of land grabs, is said to have thwarted efforts to encroach on lands the government had acquired. The monarch had also won several court cases concerning land and chieftaincy disputes against the state. His wife has expressed grave concerns, stating that her husband’s life is under serious threat.
Chief Iso’s lead counsel, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, however, contends that the Attorney General was aware of his client’s detention, revealing that he had communicated with Ani directly. According to Obono-Obla, the Attorney General had assured that Iso would soon be released, a conversation that he claims to have documented with an MTN transcript.
The alleged abduction led to Iso being placed in a detention facility linked to the Department of State Services (DSS). In response, Iso filed an action for the enforcement of his fundamental rights in the Federal High Court in Calabar, seeking justice for his unlawful detention. On January 15, 2025, Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court ordered that the DSS and the Attorney General produce Iso in court. However, on that date, the DSS denied having custody of the monarch, stating that they had no interest in him.
The Attorney General issued a statement on Thursday evening, condemning media reports that linked him and the DSS to Iso’s detention. He labeled these reports as unfounded and an attempt to tarnish his reputation. In his defense, Ani emphasized that no court judgments existed that favored Iso in land or chieftaincy matters against the state. He also questioned the timeline of Iso’s alleged abduction, pointing out that Iso was seen at Zone Six on December 23, 2024, raising doubts about the accuracy of the claims of abduction.
Ani further asserted that any attempt to detain a judgment creditor would be not only illegal but entirely futile, as it would have no bearing on the validity of any court rulings. The saga continues, with the truth of the abduction and the stakes surrounding Iso’s land disputes still shrouded in mystery.
