The Inspector General Of Police,
Shehu Shagari Way, Force Head Quarters,
Louise Edet House, Central ,Abuja
Nigeria
Sir,
The Illegal Arrest And Re-Arrest with subsequent Detention Of Activist Austin Usman Okai By The Kogi State Police Command (SARS).
We the aforementioned platform wish to inform you of our condemnation in absolute terms the detention of a good governance proponent Austin Usman Okai by the Kogi State Police Command since April 9th 2017 under the instructions of the Governor Yahaya Bello led government.
Austin's detention for close to two weeks now shows the banality of the so-called rule of law of the Bello's APC government and again clearly corroborate our assertion that the Bello's government in Kogi State is nothing short of fascism.
The story of Austin's arrest and detention is well known. On the 9th of. April 2017 , Austin Usman Okai was arrested around Abacha barrack in Abuja and was brought and detained in Lokoja, they said they where acting on the instruction of the inspector General of police, a very good friend of Kogi State Governor who the inspector General of Police gave a security award some months ago, Austin was arraigned at magistrate court Lokoja on 11th of April 2017, the case was adjourned to Thursday 13th of April 2017, Austin was granted bail that very day amidst over 200 police officers and he was rearrested by SARS at the court premises.
Austin Okai continued detention at the facilities of the Kogi State Police Command without release or bail is unconstitutional and breach of his dignity as human person and liberty as enshrined under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. Several human rights lawyers have come for his bail but the police have refused to release him because of the order from above.
This action of the Kogi State police command and the Kogi state government is a sign of moral collapse in governance in Kogi State.
It is ridiculous that while public officers who are expected to be above board but perpetrate brazen corruption are allowed to live like kings, activists who are demanding justice and sanity are thrown into the dungeons of injustice and repression.
This again shows that despite the so-called emergence of civilian rule since 1999 and despite the struggle of the working and poor masses against dictatorship and for good governance, Governor Yahaya Bello who never contributed to the termination of military dictatorship is the one throwing the masses to the gallows.
That we are still witnessing a clear attack on democratic rights in Kogi state , aided by the Kogi State police command, is a sign of bad omen for Kogi State in all ramifications. The police command is teaming up with the Bello's led government in kogi State to witch hunt activists in Kogi State.
Ojuju Agbadufu Igala is demanding that Austin Usman Okai should be released on bail immediately having been granted bail by the magistrate court as required by Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and articles 4, 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right. The police should explain why they re arrested him after been granted bail by lokoja magistrate court.
The police should explain why over 200 police officers came to the court premises to rearrest him. Chief of staff to Kogi state Governor was seen discussing with Austin's IPO on Wednesday 11th April 2017, their discussion was how to detain Austin for one month.
Are we back to the era of military absolutism with its associated abuse of the fundamental rights of people to freedom of expression, among others? An era where activists are being framed and send to jail? Why is the Kogi State Police Command conniving with politicians in Kogi State to witch hunt activists in Kogi State with opposite view.
Ojuju Agbadufu Igala has also reliably gathered that the government of Kogi State are also looking for Igala youths and to frame them so as to jail them.
It is part of the despotic measures of corrupt politicians in Kogi State aimed at suppressing activists right to protest and resist their mindless looting of the state and their anti-poor policies. This characteristic despotism of the kogi State government confirms its lack of commitment to genuine democratic culture.
The Kogi State government has become so panic and grown goose pimples over the inevitable mass backlash against its mindless looting of the kogi treasury.
This is why, besides the unjust arrest and unlawful detention of Austin in the State, they have resorted to tagging them as cultists and murderers so as to jail and silence them.
Rather than arrest the corrupt politicians in the state who looted our public resources and made people impoverished, the Nigerian Police in Kogi State is colluding with the same looters to repress genuine voices. It is disturbing that Police Commissioner has turned himself into a yes man of the Bello's government.
Austin Okai is not a criminal. He is the coordinator of PDP Youth Frontier, He is a blogger ,a Newspaper columnist. He is from Abochi in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
He uses his blog, his political columns in newspapers and placard carrying youths to speak against corruption and human rights violation in Kogi State and in Nigeria. He has been doing so since year 2008.
It is pertinent to beseech you the Inspector General of police with a view to requesting you to kindly look into this matter and condemn the unlawful arrest, rearrest and detention of activist Austin Usman Okai and demand for his immediate release and to call on the Kogi State government to stop all victimizations of Igala youth and other activists in Kogi.
Ojuju-agbadufu Igala.
Copies to: inspector General Of police, Kogi State commissioner of police
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