Emmanuel Ogebe has expressed shock over reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the Nigerian embassy in Washington to take possession of the Chibok girls from him.
Mr. Ogebe is a United States-based civil rights lawyer and social welfare campaigner who had been caring for 10 escaped Chibok girls in the US since 2014.
Ogebe said the move was emblematic of Buhari’s “government of photography and press statements,” given that “no official communication” had been channeled to him to that effect.
The federal government had on Tuesday night announced a takeover of the girls.
The girls were amongst the lucky ones that escaped after suspected Boko Haram operatives invaded Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.
In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the government said the move was approved by the parents of the girls in Nigeria.
“Following a meeting held on May 25, between parents of the escaped Chibok girls studying in America and officials of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in charge of the Chibok Girls Desk specially set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, including its representatives and agents, is now in charge of the girls,” the ministry said via a statement by Temitope Bamgboye, its director of social welfare.
“The parents signed declaration forms authorising the ministry to take over guardianship of their daughters.”
“Any previous guardianship arrangement has thus been revoked.”
But in a message shortly after reports on the takeover of the girls, Ogebe said the announcement was tantamount to “a military takeover of the girls by decree.”
He added that he had not been formally informed of the move.
Ogebe, according to Premium Times, however, said he would commence findings to establish the validity of the announcement by the federal government.
“I won’t know till I confirm the details whether this is govt finally waking up to its responsibility or a publicity stunt following the media mileage from the escape of Amina Ali.”
Ogebe took the escaped girls to the US to rehabilitate and help them continue with their education.