Effiong Elemi-Edu, 40, was released from prison in Nigeria last month after spending more than 15 years inside awaiting trial.

He was newly married and working in a plastic manufacturing firm when he was rounded up by police in Lagos in November 1995, the month after the murder of pro-democracy activist Alfred Rewane. His brutal killing has been linked to the government of former military ruler Sani Abacha.

Mr Elemi-Edu told the BBC about his arrest and how he was largely forgotten in the justice system even though military rule ended in 1999.
Effiong Elemi-Edu's testimony


I was shot in my left leg shortly after my arrest. We were all tortured and beaten”

I left my house to buy some suya (grilled meat) for dinner when I heard repeated gunshots. So I ran to a drain ditch to take cover - and when the shooting died down I wanted to rush to my residence.

On my way I heard a voice shouting: "Stop there, stop there!" I had to stop. "Who are you?"

I explained myself to the armed police, but before I knew what was happening, they were saying I was an armed robber and I was already in their vehicle.

Then they drove me down to Sars [Special Anti-Robbery Squad] - it wasn't only me. I saw a lot of people inside and they were all arrested.

I'd never been to the Sars detention camp before. I was handcuffed and asked to sit down under the fruit tree and before I knew it, a man came and took me to "theatre".

I didn't know what "the theatre" was - I thought I was going for an operation. At the "theatre" I was asked to lie down flat, face on the ground, my hands up and they chained me with rubber twine and then suspended me from my legs.

They were asking me if I knew the incident that happened to Pa Rewane and I said I didn't know what they were talking about.

"I have never robbed, I've never stolen in my life - I don't know what you're talking about," I said.


   * 6 October 1995: Alfred Rewane is murdered
   * 11 November 1995: Effiong Elemi-Edu is arrested
   * January 1996: Effiong Elemi-Edu is forced to sign a statement; accused of Rewane's urder
   * June 1998: Military ruler Sani Abacha dies
   * May 1999: Military rule ends with elections
   * January 2011: Effiong Elemi-Edu is freed after a judge rules on lack of evidence. His co-accused Lucky Igbinovia is freed too. Their fellow survivor Elvis Iremuna was released a few months earlier

   * On patrol with Nigeria's police
   * Corpses and denials
   * Nigeria's vigilante 'jungle justice'

I had never met him, and there was no way for me to get in touch with people.

I wasn't able to ask for a lawyer, my family weren't even allowed to get close to me. When they came looking for us, they drove them away and started insulting them.

About 50 of us had been arrested but seven of us were eventually charged with the murder of Pa Rewane.

I was shot in my left leg shortly after my arrest. We were all tortured and beaten.

And when I refused to recopy a statement that the police wrote with my handwriting, I received the same torture - I was punched with blows to my left ear which filled up with blood.

I was almost at the point of death so I did what they asked me.

Four of the others died while in detention in 1996 because of the torture. Only three of us have been released.
Basketball dreams
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

   My wife gave up and got married to another man”

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God alone knows why he kept me alive. I had it at the back of my mind that God would rescue me one day.

Life in jail was a hell. Not hearing from your people. During the whole process I lost my mother. She died the month after my detention of a heart attack.

My wife gave up and got married to another man.

I was always very sad. It was very painful, there was nothing you could do but look at the four corners of the prisons 24 hours a day.

Then there was the tribunal time - it was no joke back and forth in the Black Maria (police van).

There were 50 appearances before military tribunals - and between 200 to 250 adjournments in court. No trial ever got under way. You become so tired.
Continue reading the main story
Alfred Rewane

   * Prominent pro-democracy activist critical of military ruler Sani Abacha
   * Killed in his home on 6 October 1995
   * Gunmen pulled into his compound in a van marked with the logo of one of his companies
   * Staff and security overpowered and locked up
   * Rewane shot dead in the chest in his bedroom
   * His killers are yet to be found

When the ruling was made for my release last month I felt like cold water was poured on me. I give glory to God.

I am now living with a younger cousin in Lagos. I am trying to locate my other family members and will soon travel to my village in Cross River State. I intend to visit the site of my mother's grave.

My life has just been wasted like that but God has a purpose for it.

I had dreamt of becoming a basketball player - because of my six-feet-four-inches height my school mates nicked me "The Dream" after Hakeem Olajuwon [a professional Nigerian player in the US].

Coming back to society is not that easy. I'm calling on government that they should do something because presently now I don't know where I will start from.

I don't have anything. I've lost many things.

bermuda1:

Ma_J_Blige

Because your neighbour's roof leaks more than your own, nobody should tell you that your roof is leaking.

very sound logic.

I hope you have GOODLUCK in mending that roof

My wife gave up and got married to another man

oyb:

Ma_J_Blige:

Very funny.

In America - how many people languish in jails and killed for a crime they havent committed?

This is yet another ploy to bash Nigeria, right?

What is the difference?


Look here:

http://www.americaswrongfullyconvicted.com/

Ma_J_Blige:

Dont shout. Relax.

What I mean is, worse happens else where. You can bash Nigeria from now till tomorrow. I will not stop you, MonkeyLeg.

LOL.

There is no "proper" judicial system anywhere. Noone is saying Naija is perfect, but, hey - worse happens elsewhere.

Monkey.

Very funny.

In America - how many people languish in jails and killed for a crime they havent committed?

This is yet another ploy to bash Nigeria, right?

What is the difference?


Look here:

http://www.americaswrongfullyconvicted.com/

@ Ma_J_Blige   Hmmmm Very typical of us, do you have to make your point by taking us on a journey to the US, why do we always do this, "it happens abroad also to make/buttress our point", most especially in anything bad, The compensation the US will pay the person in question will surely be a lot compared to the 9ija person who will be told go home empty handed how about that, I lie

oyb:

the mary j blige imitator is obviously a pampered child of some government officials , who knows she and those dear to her will NEVER be at the receiving end of the antic of our men in black or our justice system; thats why she can talk such nonsense

telling us the same goes on in the us. what a hypocrite. then stop getting upset when we thrash the incompetent in aso rock. worse has happened to obama.

cherry picking hypocrite

January 2011: Effiong Elemi-Edu is freed after a judge rules on lack of evidence. His co-accused Lucky Igbinovia is freed too. Their fellow survivor Elvis Iremuna was released a few months earlier

Ma_J_Blige:

Dont shout. Relax.

What I mean is, worse happens else where. You can bash Nigeria from now till tomorrow. I will not stop you, MonkeyLeg.

LOL.

There is no "proper" judicial system anywhere. Noone is saying Naija is perfect, but, hey - worse happens elsewhere.

Monkey.

Kilode?!:

I agree with you, they all need to relax and stop shouting.

My Sister, don't let all these people bother you jare.

They complain about everything because their daddies are poor.

I mean, why should we fix our small small problems when there are people with bigger or similar problems all around us.

All these little little whiners on NL are angry because they are not connected or rich, did I mention that their daddy's ain't rich too? especially that oyb.

Kini big deal about some poor man in jail for 15 years without trial? Ignore them jare.

Thanks @ tyson55 jare,  True tALK,

u still dey box.?.we no see u 4 ring lately oooo  

Blazing99:

@ Kilode and Mary_J.

Better pray and hope everyday that you do not become victims of the poor justice system in Nigeria. Cos if you do and come out alive, you'd be suffering from Naijaphobia.
Did you know that police secretly execute accused armed robbers without giving them proper trials. Do you know how many people have being wrongly framed and are serving jail terms for things they dont know about.   We know injustice exists everywhere in the world but the system in Nigeria permeates worse. We obviously need a change, lets face it, this nation has few things to be proud of

oyb:

this is what this disgrace to humanity is defending.  

this is what this Arrow is telling us 'goes on in the rest of the world'

15 years of the life of an honest citizen wasted by some good for nothing cursed men in black

Kilode?!:

I agree with you, they all need to relax and stop shouting.

My Sister, don't let all these people bother you jare.

They complain about everything because their daddies are poor.

I mean, why should we fix our small small problems when there are people with bigger or similar problems all around us.

All these little little whiners on NL are angry because they are not connected or rich, did I mention that their daddy's ain't rich too? especially that oyb.

Kini big deal about some poor man in jail for 15 years without trial? Ignore them jare.

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME JUST ONE THING THAT WORKS ALL THE TIME IN NIGERIA ; JUST ONE.

Abi oooo, Thank you jare my broda or na sista, , the only thing that works is

Very funny.

In America - how many people languish in jails and killed for a crime they havent committed?

This is yet another ploy to bash Nigeria, right?

What is the difference?


Look here: