... flay his continued detention
Thirty-one Human Rights groups have urged the Nigerian Police Force to immediately release the detained Journalist and Human Rights activist, Chinonso Uba, popularly known as Nonso Nkwa or charge him to court.
The charge was contained in a release collectively signed by the groups and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
Nonso Nkwa, who was allegedly arrested by the operatives of the Imo State Police Command Command on the directives of the Force headquarters last Thursday and later flown to Abuja on Friday, has remained in Force Command’s custody till date.
Also, the Imo State government last Friday admitted of arresting the famous anchor of 'Akuko Siri' programme on the Oziza FM, Owerri and Coordinator of ‘’Protect the Weak International Foundation (PROWIF), for defaming the state government.
Nonso Nkwa was said to have accused Governor Hope Uzodinma led Imo State Government of working with Asari Dokubo, a militia leader, to unleash violence in the state.
But the groups, in the release, said that his continued detention and the refusal by the police to allow him access to his family members, lawyer and personal doctor were unlawful and a clear violation of his fundamental human rights.
The release reads, "We decry the manner in which Mr Uba was abducted like a terrorist and call for investigation and punishment of the police officers involved. Even if he has defamed the Imo state government as alleged, the proper thing is not to abduct him in this manner but to charge him in court.
"His continued detention without trial is a violation of his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
"We are convinced that Nonso Nkwa is being targeted for his work as a journalist, his criticism of the Imo State government, and the spate of killings by both state and non-state actors in Imo state."
"We reiterate that no journalist or human rights defender should be intimidated or arrested because of his work. The Nigerian police have too often proven brazenly willing to flout the law to intimidate the press.
"We, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Theodore Chinonso Uba and the dropping of all charges against him." it added.
The signatory groups were Sterling Law Centre, Abuja; Avocats Sans Frontiers (Lawyers without Borders) Abuja; Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Lagos; Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) Aba; Everybody Must Serve Campaign For Human Rights (EMS), Abuja; Justice for Peace and Development Initiative (JPDI), Lagos; Nnaemeka Ejiofor & Associates; The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), Onitsha; Life Wire International Foundation, Benin City and International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative, Enugu.
Others included Enugu Civil Society Advancement Network (ECSAN) Enugu; Coalition of Civil Society Workers and Human Rights Defenders, Enugu; Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation, (HURSDEF), Port Harcourt; One love foundation. Benin City; Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights, Abuja; African Centre for Media & Information Literacy(AFRICMIL) , Abuja; Anti-Corruption Awareness Organisation, Enugu; Child Rights Foundation, Lagos; Foundation For Leadership And Development; Rivers State Civil Society Organisations; Association of West Africa Media Lawyers and Rethink Africa Foundation.
Also on the list were FOI Counsel; Open Society for Justice Reform Project; Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, Nigeria (CCIDESOR); Habitat care and Protection Initiative (HAPI); Dinju, Fashe & Co.; Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights, and Development Advancement (FoCEHRaDA); Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community (AKHRC); Public Enlightenment Projects PEP Umuahia and Institutional and Sustainable Development Foundation. FCT.
