Nigeria Secret Police Release US-Based Medical Practitioner & Lawyer Detained Over “Online Activism"

Posted: November 29, 2013 - 18:37

By SaharaReporters, New York
Nigeria's secret police today arrested and later released a United States based medical practitioner, Emmanuel Fashakin on arrival at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport.

Dr. Fashakin is an older brother of Rotimi Fashakin, former spokesman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) arrived on Arik airline flight into Lagos only to be detained by the SSS.

The doctor, who is also a lawyer, is well known on Nigerian listservs for his comments on the state of affairs in Nigeria.

His lawyer, Bamidele Aturu confirmed the arrest and subsequent release an hour ago to Saharareporters, stating that he was held for several hours in the custody of the SSS both at the airport and its Kingsway road offices in Ikoyi Lagos.

The arrest of Dr. Fashakin offers evidence that the Goodluck Jonathan government is opening a new front not in the war against Nigeria’s problems of which it has become a part, but on critics of bad governance.

In his letter to the Director General of the SSS, which was copied to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Aturu called for his client to be released immediately.

He pointed out that it is indefensible to subject a person who had been on an eleven hour non-stop flight to the physical and psychological stress of detention which cause is not divulged for hours.

The lawyer also stressed that the detention constitutes an unwarranted violation of the right of Dr. Fashakin to respect for the dignity of his person and not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment as guaranteed by section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and all other International Human Rights Instruments.

“Since no reason has been advanced for the detention of our client, we want to believe that it has nothing to do with his well-known expression on the internet of opinions about how to advance democracy in Nigeria and ensure that our people are rescued from the abyss of inexplicable poverty occasioned by greed and graft,” he said. “Whatever may be the case, we would like to make it clear the arrest and detention of our client is unacceptable and that we shall implacably seek all possible and known legal remedies on his behalf.”

Demanding that Dr. Fashakin be released within 24 hours, Mr. Aturu said he would otherwise be compelled to take all lawful and necessary steps to ensure that the rights of his client are protected, including going to court.

It would be recalled that only last week, President Jonathan threatened to sue SaharaReporters for libel for reporting on the seedy and corrupt tendencies of his government.

“As unregulated as they are, SaharaReporters and their ilk are not beyond the bounds of legal action for libel and willful defamation of the character and reputation of a President who has courageously stepped forward to serve his country,” presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said.

Nigerians believe Mr. Jonathan’s government to be the most corrupt and hypocritical in the country’s history, and even his former Internet fans who supported him in the 2011 elections continue to say so in various fora.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/nigeria-secret-police-release-us-based-medical-practitioner-lawyer-detained-over-%E2%80%9Conline-a

Wow thank God for the internet people should be careful about calling for the Army to take over the country, I might have to change one of my topics

LMAO


In Nigeria, everybody is a journalist

Nowadays, 1000 bloggers/news portal owners could write a single story in 1000 different ways and 1000 different meanings..

Oya, I dey wait for Punch edition and Ogboge blog edition

Sahara reporters a.k.a Anti-GEJ reporters have written what they want/have to write in their own interest.. lmaoo

Oya na, Vanguard and Tinubu's journalists bloggers, where una dey?

[color=#990000][/color][b][/b][i][/i]


Even abacha in his grave will give salute to gej dictatorship style.

Acidosis: LMAO


In Nigeria, everybody is a journalist

Nowadays, 1000 bloggers/news portal owners could write a single story in 1000 different ways and 1000 different meanings..

Oya, I dey wait for Punch edition and Ogboge blog edition

Sahara reporters a.k.a Anti-GEJ reporters have written what they want/have to write in their own interest.. lmaoo

Oya na, Vanguard and Tinubu's journalists bloggers, where una dey?

SHUT UP fool.

Tadon200:
SHUT UP fool.

Why are you bitter?

...Nigerians believe Mr. Jonathan’s government to be the most corrupt and hypocritical in the country’s history, and even his former Internet fans who supported him in the 2011 elections continue to say so in various fora...

It is obvious these guys have begin to believe their own lies and propaganda. Very childish conclusion from a supposed adult.

ibn akogun: [color=#990000][/color][b][/b][i][/i]


Even abacha in his grave will give salute to gej dictatorship style.

The confusion of APC.....


GEJ is clueless and weak.....GEJ is a dictator!

TechWalker007:




GEJ is clueless and weak.....GEJ is a dictator!

No one wants a weakling or dictator for a President. We want GEJ to be a 'strong president', strong enough to deal with our corrupt politicians, strong enough to deal with crude oil thieves, strong enough to deal with the cabal of fraudulent business men and women who commit economic crimes, and strong enough to guide the country to the promised land. Not a President or Government that hounds ordinary citizens for expressing their displeasure towards Government.

take dat: No one wants a weakling or dictator for a President. We want GEJ to be a 'strong president', strong enough to deal with our corrupt politicians, strong enough to deal with crude oil thieves, strong enough to deal with the cabal of fraudulent business men and women who commit economic crimes, and strong enough to guide the country to the promised land. Not a President or Government that hounds ordinary citizens for expressing their displeasure towards Government.

What part of the post did you not get.

It is the same people who say GEJ is weak that also say GEJ is a dictator.
Who? Your guess is as good as mine!

SR sabi lie. No be Ogogoro matter wee make them say them go catch you?

Saharareporters.com:
It would be recalled that only last week, President Jonathan threatened to sue SaharaReporters for libel for reporting on the seedy and corrupt tendencies of his government.

TechWalker007:

What part of the post did you not get.

It is the same people who say GEJ is weak that also say GEJ is a dictator.
Who? Your guess is as good as mine!

What if he is both, a weakling and a dictator ? What if he is 'weak' to deal with the tandem of thieves in and outside government but a dictator to ordinary Nigerians? I get you though!