Group Demands Release Of Chairman From Detention

The Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking (NACAT) has condemned what it described arsenic the unlawful and politically motivated apprehension and detention of its chairman, Mr. Fejiro Oliver, by the constabulary and called for his unconditional release.

The radical said successful a connection by its operational manager, Stanley Ugagbe that Oliver, a trained journalist, was arrested connected Thursday successful Abuja and subsequently moved to Delta State without immoderate wide reason.

The web alleged that his apprehension whitethorn beryllium connected to the Delta State authorities since helium was instantly flown to Delta without immoderate connection arsenic to what his crimes are.

It said, “Oliver is not a criminal, helium is simply a courageous journalist, whistleblower and anti-corruption advocator whose tireless enactment has exposed high-level graft, maltreatment of bureau and organised transgression networks crossed Nigeria. This crude effort to soundlessness him is not conscionable an onslaught connected an individual, but a nonstop battle connected civilian liberties, state of look and the psyche of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The mode of his apprehension devoid of transparency, legality, and accountability is emblematic of a disturbing trend: wherever authorities powerfulness is being weaponized by elected officials to soundlessness dissent, punish truth-tellers, and support corruption astatine the highest levels.

“The Nigerian Police Force, by allowing itself to beryllium utilized arsenic a governmental onslaught dog, is complicit successful this egregious maltreatment of authority.

“NACAT hereby demands the contiguous and unconditional merchandise of Fejiro Oliver from unlawful detention. The continued detention of Oliver is simply a litmus trial for Nigeria’s committedness to justice, the regularisation of law, and quality rights. We telephone connected each Nigerians — the media, civilian society, quality rights defenders, and the planetary assemblage — to emergence successful defence of justness and clasp those liable to account. This is not conscionable astir Oliver — this is astir the aboriginal of escaped code and accountability successful Nigeria.”