The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Cross River State, Ededem Ani Esq., has refuted claims linking him to the alleged arrest and detention of Chief Maurice Omin Iso, a traditional ruler in Calabar Municipality.
In a statement, Ani dismissed the report as false, baseless, and malicious, stating it was designed to tarnish his reputation, which he has carefully built over the years.
He clarified that contrary to the claims, the said Chief Iso was never arrested on his directive.
“The article alleged that Chief Maurice Omin Iso was arrested on December 21, 2024, on my orders. However, verifiable records show that Chief Iso, along with Ntufam Donatus Etim and others, voluntarily appeared at Zone 6 Police Headquarters in Calabar on December 23, 2024, in connection with a petition regarding attempted murder and kidnapping,” Ani explained.
He further questioned the logic of the report, asking how someone allegedly arrested two days prior could willingly attend a police interview. Ani emphasized that Chief Iso left the police premises freely after the meeting.
Ani also denied allegations that the supposed arrest was connected to judgments Chief Iso allegedly secured against the state.
He clarified that there is no record of any judgments involving Chief Iso against the Cross River State Government concerning land or chieftaincy disputes.
“Even if such judgments existed, the appropriate legal response would be an appeal, not arrest or detention. Arresting a judgment creditor does not invalidate a judgment and would be both illegal and futile,” he added.
The Attorney General urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as a fabrication intended to mislead and cause unnecessary controversy.