Nigerians Wailers Condemn Illegal Rearrest & Detention Of Austin Okai by Gov Yahaya Bello


The attention of the Nigerian Wailers has been drawn to the unconstitutional rearrest and illegal detention of Mr Usman Austin Okai, a blogger and frontline critic of the Kogi state government on the orders of Governor Yahaya Bello.

Mr Austin Okai was arrested in Abuja by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad on the 9th of April 2017 on fictitious petitions by some cronies of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi state. He was arraigned before a Kogi state magistrate court and granted bail but rearrested by the Police Anti-Robbery Squad in the court premises.

This is indeed a national shame that a supposed law enforcement agency like the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) can allow itself to be used to perpetrate such barbaric and belligerent act.
It is also a sad narrative that such a young man like Yahaya Bello who became governor in an usual circumstance could order the arrest of Austin Okai whose offense was the exercise of right to freedom of speech.

There has been different reports of indiscriminate arrests and detentions of activist across the country at both Federal and State levels controlled by the ruling All Progressive Party (APC).

These actions are absurd and very disheartening, totally unacceptable as it is a serious threat to our democracy. Nigerians should not be arrested for criticizing and holding the government accountable, every citizen reserves the right to constructively criticize the government in a democratic dispensation like Nigeria.

The Nigerian Wailers hereby demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Usman Austin Okai from illegal detention for as long as the Nigerian constitution guarantees the freedom of speech we call on Gov Yahaya Bello and the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad to release Austin Okai. Injustice to one is injustice to all.

SIGNED: Fasipe Oluyemi
Deputy National Publicity Secretary
The Nigerian Wailers
Headquarters, FCT, Abuja

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Buhari’s health sparks fresh debate on leadership in Nigeria - The protracted absence on medical grounds of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has stoked fears of a full-blown political crisis at the heart of Africa’s most populous nation - Buhari left Abuja for London on January 19, leaving Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in charge while he took time off - Speculations were rife that he may no longer be fit for the top job, and despite multiple claims he is well, the government has struggled to seize back the initiative The protracted absence on medical grounds of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has stoked fears of a full-blown political crisis at the heart of Africa’s most populous nation. Former Acting National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande and ex-governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu during their visit to Buhari in London Vanguard reports that the 74-
Read more
Image
EFCC recovers more vehicles, others from ex-Customs boss Abdullahi Dikko Inde Barely six days after 17 “exotic” vehicles were recovered from a Kaduna warehouse belonging to former Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Abdullahi Dikko Inde, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), another set of items including vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, have been seized.   The items, which were recovered on Monday and Tuesday from another warehouse said to be the property of the former Customs boss include a 2013 model 32-seater Nissan bus, 42 cargo tricycles, one tipper truck, 16 motorcycles, over 500 rug carpets and two fire-proof safes.   Zonal Head, EFCC in Kaduna, Bappa Ibrahim said yesterday that the recovery was made following tip-off . He said the operation, which led to the recovery of the items was a continuation of the anti-graft agency’s investigation on the former Customs boss. Ibrahim said the items were recovered from a wa
Read more