The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Cross River State, Ededem Ani Esq, has firmly refuted claims linking him to the alleged arrest and detention of Chief Maurice Omin Iso, a traditional ruler in Calabar Municipality.
The baseless report had suggested Ani’s involvement in the incident.
In a statement issued on the 17th of January, 2025, Ani vehemently condemned the claims, labeling them as malicious and intended solely to tarnish his reputation.
He urged the public to disregard the false report, asserting that Chief Iso’s arrest was not carried out under his instruction.
To clarify the situation, Ani explained that on the 23rd of December, 2024, Chief Maurice Omin Iso, Ntufam Donatus Etim, and others visited the Zone 6 Police Headquarters in Calabar voluntarily for an interview regarding a petition that involved allegations of attempted murder and kidnapping.
He questioned how someone supposedly arrested two days prior could willingly attend a police interview in person just days later, emphasizing that after the interview, Chief Iso departed the Zone 6 Command of his own accord.
In addition, Ani dismissed as entirely fabricated the claim that the chief’s arrest was due to legal judgments against the state.