HURIWA to DSS, security agencies: – arresting citizens for expressing their opinions freely is undemocratic, illegal:

Leading Civil Rights Advocacy group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA  (HURIWA) has asked the hierarchy of the Department of State Services (DSS) to desist from harassing, intimidating, arresting and arbitrarily detaining citizens only because they democratically exercised their constitutionally sanctioned Right to freedom of expression.

HURIWA has also condemned the deployment of security hostage taking similar to the modus operandi of kidnappers by publicly funded security agencies.  HURIWA said if security agencies seek the attention of any citizen, inviting the person properly in writing is the way to go rather than the use of invasion of the living places of such a person as if to say the person is a common criminal.

Besides, HURIWA is appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to warn his security heads to desist from attracting unfavorable public image for his person in the final phase of his two terms as elected president of Nigeria who swore an oath of allegiance to comply fully with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution without precondition.

HURIWA reminds President Buhari that the renewed crackdown on opponents of the all progressive congress (APC) and or citizens by the department for state services (DSS) because of the opinions of such persons freely and peaceably exercised, such despicable act of tyranny will mar the political legacy that President Buhari plans to bequeath as he retires on May 29th.

HURIWA spoke specifically against the back drops of the reported arrest in the middle of the night in a Gestapo military style of an activist and president of the middle belt youths forum Meliga Godwin who has been detained by the DSS allegedly on the orders of the director General, since last year December 19th.

Huriwa recalled that the youth’s activist, Mr. Godwin Meliga had reportedly addressed the media same day of his nocturnal arrest by the DSS , in which the activist reportedly condemned the secret police for allegedly attempting to obtain an ex- parte order to detain the embattled central Bank of Nigeria governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele for alleged terrorism. According to news report, the detained activist had described the action of the DSS as a “hatchet job”.

In a media  statement by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko the National Coordinator, HURIWA said it was undemocratic, unconstitutional, and violates the constitutionally  guaranteed fundamental rights of citizens to whisks off citizens and to detain them not for any known crime but rather for voicing their free opinions on policy matters when in fact the constitution in section 14(2）(c) provides that “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

Besides,HURIWA said if it is true that the arrest and illegal detention of Meliga Godwin was as alleged that his media briefing caused embarrassment to the person of the DG of the Dss, the Rights group said public office holders need not view public  criticisms of  their policies or modus of carrying out their public functions as personal attacks or else such act of arresting citizens using the powers of the public office conferred on the occupant of such an official status of the holder would inevitably dovetail into breach of section 15（5）thus：”The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

HURIWA has therefore urged President Buhari to order the DSS to immediately free the activist Mr. Godwin Meliga and to stop further violations of his fundamental human rights as provided for in chapter 4 of the constitution including section 39(1）which states thus： Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.  And section 36 which provides thus：1) In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.

(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, a law shall not be invalidated by reason only that it confers on any government or authority power to determine questions arising in the administration of a law that affects or may affect the civil rights and obligations of any person if such law –

(a) provides for an opportunity for the persons whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representations to the administering authority before that authority makes the decision affecting that person; and (b) contains no provision making the determination of the administering authority final and conclusive.”

HURIWA therefore states that arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of citizens violates all on own principles, precepts and statutes governing constitutional democracy and Nigeria must never return to the infamous period of the late military junta leader General Sani Abacha whereby citizens human rights were flagrantly breached with impunity by government officials who believe wrongly that they are above the law.

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