The Socio Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had condemned the reported arbitrary detention of novelist and author Okey Ndibe by the Tinubu government upon his arrival in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, SERAP maintained that while Ndibe has reportedly been released, he should never have been detained in the first place simply for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
The statement read, “According to reports, Okey Ndibe was detained by DSS (SSS) operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos upon his arrival from the United States.
“He was reportedly later released after the agency stated that the officer handling his case file had travelled out of the country.
“Okey Ndibe’s detention forms part of an escalating crackdown on human rights in Nigeria, particularly the increasing use of the DSS (SSS) to harass, intimidate and target critics, human rights defenders, activists and civil society organisations for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
“Detaining writers, journalists, activists or other critics solely for peacefully exercising their human rights is patently unlawful and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“No one should face harassment, intimidation or arbitrary detention because of their opinions, writing or peaceful criticism of those in power.
“These authoritarian practices by the Tinubu government MUST END.
“The Tinubu government must immediately clarify the legal basis for Mr Ndibe’s detention, ensure full transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, and guarantee that the DSS and other security and law enforcement agencies do not misuse their powers to harass, intimidate or target individuals for peacefully exercising their human rights, including freedom of expression.
“The government must provide Mr Ndibe access to justice and effective remedies.
“Freedom of expression is guaranteed under section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These protections extend to opinions that may challenge, criticise or offend public authorities.
“Arbitrary detention is prohibited under section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter.
“The Tinubu government must respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of everyone in the country.
“The Tinubu government must immediately end the harassment and intimidation of writers, journalists, activists and other peaceful critics; ensure accountability where rights have been violated; and provide effective guarantees of non-repetition.
“The United Nations and African Union human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, should publicly condemn the arbitrary detention of Mr Ndibe and send a clear message to the Tinubu government that repression of Nigerians’ rights—including the harassment and intimidation of critics, activists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations—will carry serious consequences for Nigeria’s human rights standing and international reputation”.
