We Did Not Pay N500m For Clark’s Son’s Freedom –Delta Govt

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Asaba

The Delta state Government has refuted claims by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that the State paid the sum of N500 million naira ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme, son of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who was recently kidnapped and released last week.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uguaghan

African Examiner, reports that MEND had alleged that Ebikeme’s kidnap was stage-managed by him and the police to swindle the state government of the said amount.

The denial statement issued by secretary to the state government SSG, Ovuzorie Macaulay read thus: “The Delta State Government wishes to State categorically that it did not part with any money as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark.

“It is the policy of the Government not to pay or encourage the payment of ransom by families as this encourages more kidnappings.”

The statement further explained that the state government had had previous cases of high profile kidnappings that the victims had been kept much longer than that of Ebikeme, but never paid any ransom.

“What then is so special about Mr. Ebikeme Clark that will make the State Government pay ransom” it asked.

“Secondly, the volume of money being mentioned, N500m, makes the allegation very foolish for anyone who knows how government runs and the logistics of that volume of fund movement, considering the fact that there were only two working days during the period.” It stated