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
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