The Abia State Government has reacted to the arrest of Staff Sgt. Amoke Simon of the Nigerian Army, whose health condition last week elicited a promise of medical support from Governor Alex Otti.
According to the government, information from military authorities revealed that the soldier was arrested in connection with a fraud he allegedly ‘perpetrated some time ago.’
The government’s position was disclosed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity.
He said the government established that the said soldier previously served in Abia, adding that he actually sustained an injury where he was serving, for which an NGO brought him to Abia State Government for a medical assistance.
The statement said that Governor Alex Otti’s promise of support to the soldier was purely on compassionate ground, as similarly extended to several citizens, including security agents who suffered one misfortune or another in the course of their duties.
“While it is outside the scope of the State Government to investigate cases of corruption, it’s also important to state that the government requested that due diligence be conducted on Sergeant Amoke, which may have also triggered the action of the military which culminated in his arrest shortly after his visit,” Ekeoma said.
He declared that the government is in full support of every legitimate action being taken by the Nigerian Army to discipline the erring soldier, adding that the government shall continue to offer financial, medical and other humanitarian support to victims of all kinds of misfortune, despite the present controversy.