A young man in his 30s who hails from Akwa Ibom State and is practicing journalism in Rivers State appears to be abandoned to his fate by his colleagues and employer more than a year ago, with no hope of regaining his freedom. A pathetic situation you would say, yet nobody wants to touch the matter even with a long spoon.
This reporter out of curiosity and pity dared the Port Harcourt Maximum Security prison to ascertain his whereabout and at least hear from the “Horses Mouth”.
He filled the application form for visitors, requesting to see MR. DENNIS ESSANG of the Mirror Newspaper, a local tabloid.
After a 2 hrs long waiting he paid his way through at every checkpoints and finally was ushered into a common room for another long wait, while the warder in charge went to call him.
Finally, this concern reporter was face to face with a very pale image of his colleague. He smile dryly saying “my brother this is what I saw last year from my neighbour”.
Attributing it to spiritual manipulation for a crime he said he knew nothing about. The reporter sought for explanation on what happened that brought him to the galore. He disclosed that he was charged for defilement of a toddler an allegation that he is denying vehemently. Mr. Essang disclosed further that the matter will be coming up this morning in High Court 13, Port Harcourt and that interestingly the complainant are no longer interested in the matter and of such don’t even come to court whenever it is called upon.
On what his employer, Mr. Isikima Harry of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council or even the Nigeria Union of Journalist Executive has done, Dennis lamented that he has been abandoned by everybody.
“Even if I killed can’t my people come and hear me out first. This is a profession we use to fight the course of other oppressed members of the society”, tears gathering in his eyes. There was no time to get more explanation as the Warder said our time was up.
When the NUJ Secretariat was contacted, the Secretary Mr. Stanley Job Stanley expressed sympathy but said though the matter was a criminal one, the union is yet to be informed formally over the incidence.
Many other colleagues whose opinion were sought said it was proper he is granted bail and assisted to have a fair hearing to defend himself and if found guilty he should be dealt with according to the law. That he shouldn’t be abandoned like that as it could happened to anybody.
It is worthy to note that he is yet single and his aged mother died early this year as a result of heart break.
By Joe Kalu
