Press Release
Unlawful Continued Detention of David Ugolor

Unlawful Continued Detention of David Ugolor

The Executive Secretary

Human Rights Commission,

Aguiyi Ironsi Street,

Maitama, Abuja

 

Unlawful Continued Detention of David Ugolor

I wish to present this complaint to your honourable office because there is a serious violation of David Ugolor’s fundamental human rights to liberty.

On 27 July 2012, a group of Policemen (Federal SARS) went to the Africa Network of Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)’s office in Benin and prevented all staff including David Ugolor, who is the Executive director, from going out or coming into the office for approximately three hours.

The reason for the invasion according to one of the policemen was that David Ugolor is being fingered by one of the prime suspects of the killing of Comrade Oyerinde Olaitan- the Principal Private Secretary to Adams Oshiomhole, the executive governor of Edo State.

After ransacking the office and his house, David Ugolor was taken to the Police Area Command in Benin for further interrogation, and finally he was detained on 27 July, 2012 in the Police Area Command in Benin.

All frantic effort made by staff, friends and family members to secure his release has proved abortive because the Nigeria Police said it must continue its investigation to unravel the real killers of Comrade Oyerinde Olaitan.

On this same matter, the State Security Service on 1st August, 2012 paraded suspects via television stations in the country, who claimed they were responsible for the killing of the same Oyerinde Olaitan in Benin City.

Even on this ground of the SSS parading suspected killers, David Ugolor is still being kept in police detention in Benin City in a very deplorable cell where he is compelled to endure stressful torture of threats and abuse of his fundamental human rights.

Adding to this, the police refused both his lawyer, wife and family members to see him until about 5:30pm on 3 August 2012, which culminated in his starving for hours that fateful day. The police further threatened that they would be responsible for providing his meal.

While we believe in the rule of law to arrest and investigate crime, however, we are beginning to get worried by the continued detention and deprivation hatched on him by the Nigeria Police even when investigation and crime has been established by the State Security Service.

It is our humble call to your office to help uphold David Ugolor’s fundamental human rights.

 

Signed

Otsemaye Newton

6 Mudi Street

Jikwoyi Phase 3

Abuja

08054733317

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