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Editorial News of Tuesday, 30 October 2001

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Odinga to be deported

The Evening News says it’s enquiries from the Ministry of the Interior revealed that Albert Hamid Odinga, the supposed Belize national, whose arrest near former President Rawlings’ house generated controversy, is to be deported soon. The major problem relates to the fact that Odinga does not possess any documents relating to his nationality.

"Even though it is generally believed that Odinga is from Belize, he has no documents to this effect," said, Mr E.P.D. Barnes, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior in response to a questionnaire sent to the Ministry.

According to him, the Ministry is ‘sorting out things’ and Odinga would be deported as soon as this is resolved. Meanwhile, the paper claims to have picked signals that frantic efforts were being made to unravel the mystery surrounding Odinga's stay in Ghana. But, as to how this is being done and when investigations would be completed, the security authorities are tight-lipped.

The other twist to the Odinga story is the Habeas Corpus writ filed by his lawyers, challenging his continuous detention. They are demanding that, he should be put before a law court and tried. In the absence of any such trial, the detention would be deemed inconsequential.