The Nigerian Wailers has condemned the unconstitutional re-arrest 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 (SARS) 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 re-arrested by the Police Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS 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.
In a statement signed by Fasipe Oluyemi, the group’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, the Nigerian Wailers said 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 offence 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”, the statement said.
Credit: Signalng.com
