Charles Taylor escapes
from Nigeria
By BONIFACE NZAMA, Calabar, LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Wednesday,
March 29, 2006
 |
Mr
Charles Taylor |
|
Former Liberian President, Mr Charles Taylor who has been
in Nigeria on asylum since August 2003 escaped from his base
in Calabar, Cross River State to an unknown destination on
Monday night.
Daily Sun sources said Taylor escaped through the Margaret
Ekpo International Airport, Calabar on a charter flight, accompanied
by some of his aides and family members.
His escape came barely 48 hours after President Olusegun Obasanjo
informed his Liberian counterpart, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
that Liberia was free to pick up Taylor, following the government’s
request to that effect.
Taylor’s action drew widespread reactions across the
globe with notable leaders expressing worry about the development.
Conflicting information were offered at press time about the
ex-Liberian president’s destination. A report claimed
he might be headed for Harare on fresh exile under a ‘deal’
allegedly worked under the table between President Olusegun
Obasanjo and the Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe. Another
report, however, said Taylor’s aides were negotiating
asylum for him with the Ethiopian authorities. There was a
noticeable security absence at Taylor’s Solomon Unoh
lodge facing U.J. Esuene Stadium, while gates leading into
Dan Archibong and Oforbuche Lodges where his family members
resided were unusually left wide open.
Reacting to Taylor’s disappearance, President Obasanjo
has ordered for the arrest of 22 policemen detailed to guard
the warlord’s residence in Calabar. This was confirmed
in a press statement from the presidential spokesperson, Mrs
Remi Oyo.
The president, who left Abuja yesterday for the United States
of America also gave approval for the constitution of a panel
of enquiry to look into the circumstances of the disappearance.
A statement from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF) Chief Ufot Ekaette named the members of the panel of
enquiry as, Justice Jean Omokiri of the Court of Appeal, Calabar;
Mr Thomas Shodimu, a retired commissioner of police; Mr Shehu
Sani, a representative of the civil society; Mr Alfred Sallia
Fawundu, the UNDP resident representative in Nigeria and Mr
Abba Bello Mohammed of the SGF’s office, who will serve
as secretary of the panel.
The panel, according to its terms of reference will examine
the circumstances of the disappearance of Mr Charles Taylor
from his residence in Calabar on Monday night, with a view
to identifying those responsible.
The panel which will be inaugurated Wednesday by the Attorney-General
of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo
will also ascertain whether Taylor escaped or was abducted;
recommend appropriate sanctions against those found culpable
and make any recommendations that the panel may consider appropriate
in the circumstances. All the findings are expected to be
submitted in two weeks time.
Mrs Oyo explained that in keeping with his promise, President
Obasanjo consulted with the leaders of AU and ECOWAS and thereafter
informed the Liberian president her government was free to
pick up Taylor. “Having done that, Nigeria’s job
was done,” she said.
The acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Bello Labaran
in a press statement issued on behalf of the IGP, Mr Sunday
Ehindero who is away in London on official engagement, said
22 police officers had been arrested in connection with the
disappearance. |
