The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has raised alarm over the reported arrest of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), suggesting the move may be politically motivated.
In a statement signed by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB said it was “deeply concerned” that Ngige’s arrest appears to have come shortly after he received former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at his residence.
Obi had visited Ngige to commiserate with him following a recent attack on the former minister’s convoy along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Anambra State, during which at least one person was reportedly killed and several others injured.
MASSOB hinted that Ngige’s warmth toward Obi, and what it described as “a perceived alignment” with Obi’s 2027 presidential prospects, may have triggered his current troubles with the anti-graft agency.
“The timing of Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige’s arrest raises serious questions,” the statement read. “MASSOB is concerned about the treatment of Dr. Ngige and urges that all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, be treated fairly under the law.”
The group warned that any pattern of targeting political figures over their perceived sympathies or associations could deepen mistrust in national institutions and further polarise the country.
MASSOB also stressed that both Ngige and Obi have consistently worked within the Nigerian political framework and should not be subjected to what could be interpreted as intimidation.
“We call for respect for the dignity of all individuals while upholding national unity,” Madu said, adding that agencies of government must be seen to act impartially and not as “tools in the hands of those afraid of 2027.”
While reaffirming its long-standing agitation for the rights and protection of people from the South-East, MASSOB urged the Federal Government and its agencies to ensure that any investigation involving Ngige follows due process and is free from political interference.
The EFCC has yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised by MASSOB regarding the circumstances surrounding Ngige’s arrest.
