Demdem: Airport harassment, my story – Ezekwesili



A former Minister of Education and a champion of the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has narrated her ordeals in the hands of security operatives at the Abuja International Airport on Monday.

Ezekwesili was delayed for over 40 minutes by men of the Department of State Security, who harassed her based on “orders from above.”


Narrating her ordeals to members of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, to whom she is a trustee on Tuesday, Ezekwesili gave a blow by blow account of her ordeals in the hands of DSS.

This was contained in a statement by the CANAN Executive Director, Pastor Laolu Akande, after the former minister visited the group in London.

Akande quoted Ezekwesili as saying that, “I arrived at the airport yesterday (on Monday) to travel to London on British Airline. First, after the luggage screening section, I moved to the Customs people, sitting right next to it and do a more thorough bag search. Rather than they handling my luggage as is the practice, there were three SSS men, who rudely took over before they could do so, and ordered me to open my bag.

“I was travelling light, with just my hand luggage leather roll on and my computer bag. I placed the bag for them (to see) and one was already furiously frisking through it when the Customs advised that a woman be allowed to do it. She was allowed and she did it.

“She finished, zipped up the luggage and they said I could proceed. But I asked that the computer bag be also searched, and they did.

“I went on to do my checking and got my boarding pass, and was swiftly done. I arrived the Departure Immigration Desk at about 7.15am and presented my passport and forms. The Immigration staff did his processing and handed to the SSS official. Usually, their entire process lasts no more than five to 10 minutes on a passport. As a frequent traveller through our Lagos and Abuja airports, I speak based on experience and evidence. Even on the same day, the process for other travellers that I witnessed did not last more than five minutes. But on Monday, it became five, 10, 15 and 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 minutes for the Departure Desk processing for me, with no explanation given except “We act under instruction.”

Ezekwesili said after 10 minutes of waiting, she asked the officer why her passport was not handed over to her.

“He responded, “I am not doing this personally madam. I am simply acting based on instruction, and you of all persons should understand that.”

“When it was 20 minutes into the process, and with BA announcing the final boarding call for the 8am flight, the officer walked out of the cubicle, heading off. I followed him, asking where he was going without giving back my passport nor an explanation on why it was being withheld. His nonchalant response was “just wait. I am trying to help you”.

“It became evident that they withheld the passport to detain me at their departure desk in order to miss the flight. That was when I tweeted @ 7.37am “@obyezeks: Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The SSS has refused to give my passport to me.” At 7.41am “@obyezeks: On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my passport.”

“At that point, I brought out my phone to record him even as I asked for the passport. He got angry and charged at me that he would seize my phone. Then his colleague screamed at him a third time to handover the passport. He did,” she said.

EliteYouth:

Rubbish......so well arranged as if it was planed................Oby and her Crew again are looking for cheap political points to score.

lakpalakpa: Sling as much mud as you can but Jona-daft will have no peace till he brings back the girls, well meaning Nigerians are solidly behind Oby.

Demdem:

Goon, has the SSS or the security agents debunked her claim of the actual events that happened before she boarded? If they haven't explained what really transpired, what is ur basis for this foolish post? Where u at the airport then?
U don't sound smart at all.

Greensaint:

Nigerian cowards cannot ask governors who arranged the abduction of their daughters to bring them back but have the guts to attack GEJ.
How many kidnap cases are resolved in the US every year & how many are directly handled by Obama?

EliteYouth:

Dude, My post was scooped out from Oby Ezekwesili's twitter handle, i dont know where on earth you have been, but DSS spokes person Ms. Ogar said Oby was not detained as she claimed but she only went through a normal routine cheek, is she the first Nigerian to be delayed at the airport? why is she making an issues out of this, does it really make sense? why would she be stopped from traveling when they know how crafty she can be and twist things up? Dude, you just a huge victim of ignorance.

Demdem:

Did that woman stated the routine check they subjected her to?
Are u insinuating that a well travelled woman like oby won't be able to differentiate what a routine check is and an abnormal check.
I have been privilege to travel at several occasions and at no time do demdem passport is scrutinised by SSS agents. After immigration, custom, airline officials, airport officials etc but not SSS. On one occasion, I witnessed ndlea agents but not SSS. Not that the agents aren't there but they aren't conspicuous. My guts tells me that they only show face on names on their watch list. What she was subjected to wasnt routine. Oggar lied again.
Goon, u are the ignorant one here. If no one has ever travelled before in ur household, go to a friends household and ask people to either corroborate my position or not.

ratiken:

Whenever you start supporting a particular individual vigorously like you've done on this matter... there is always a political undertone in favour of APC.

With that alone, I can conclude that Oby is working against the federal govt.

lakpalakpa:

Shut it!!

These lies make you look very silly!!!

Jona-daft has already placed those states under SOE so he is personally in charge of the security of those states.

I wonder if you folks actually saw a school in your life..

lakpalakpa:

Shut it!!

These lies make you look very silly!!!

Jona-daft has already placed those states under SOE so he is personally in charge of the security of those states.

I wonder if you folks actually saw a school in your life..

Greensaint:
So insults & stupid posts are what show that you went to school. I wonder how you relate with your father at home.

Greensaint:
So insults & stupid posts are what show that you went to school. I wonder how you relate with your father at home.

Demdem:

Did that woman stated the routine check they subjected her to?
Are u insinuating that a well travelled woman like oby won't be able to differentiate what a routine check is and an abnormal check.
I have been privilege to travel at several occasions and at no time do demdem passport is scrutinised by SSS agents. After immigration, custom, airline officials, airport officials etc but not SSS. On one occasion, I witnessed ndlea agents but not SSS. Not that the agents aren't there but they aren't conspicuous. My guts tells me that they only show face on names on their watch list. What she was subjected to wasnt routine. Oggar lied again.
Goon, u are the ignorant one here. If no one has ever travelled before in ur household, go to a friends household and ask people to either corroborate my position or not.

EliteYouth:

Dude, you clam to be smart and exposed but sincerely it does not reflect in your post, what has my household got to do with this? do you really need to be abusive to make a point ? expect you are venting in frustration, just so you know just this year alone i have traveled over four times and i know what i'm talking about, besides delay in the Airport is not just peculiar to Nigeria, all over the world 30mins delay at the airport its not a big deal, If you are really smart ask yourself this simple question? Why would DSS want to arrest or detain her? is there any sense in attempting to?

Demdem:

If u like, travel a dozen times, it's none of my business and out of point like most of ur post.
When u were travelling, did it take the SSS and security agents around 40 mins to clear u?
Infact did u even see SSS at all?
They most likely delayed her because she is in their watch list. Public figures who are are perceived opponents to Jonathan are in such so it isn't out of place.
Oby is well travelled and she obviously knows the difference between a normal scrutiny at the airport and an abnormal one.

EliteYouth:

The Security Agency has the right to stop and scrutinized anybody, they are Secret Agents dude you dont get to see them regularly, the bottom-line remains that Oby just blew the delay ish out of proportion, she lied to Nigerians.

agamenon: That woman is becoming something els,may God deliver her.