A Civil Society Organization, Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC) has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) in Imo State to charge the detained human rights activist, Aku Obidinma to court with evidence of breach of State Security.
The Executive Director of the MIIVOC, Dr. Walter Duru, who made the call while addressing newsmen in Owerri today, Thursday, said that the continued detention of the activist is an abuse of the fundamental human rights of the citizen.
Describing the action of the DSS as politically motivated, Dr. Duru insisted that the Service should stop playing politics, but to concentrate on its constitutional duty of internal security.
“If DSS has any evidence of breach of State Security against Aku Obidinma, they should charge him to Court and not illegally detain him in perpetuity. It amounts to impunity.
“Information at our disposal suggests that the Coordinator of Imo Bilie Initiative, Aku Obidinma was arrested on Monday, 21st November, 2016 by men of the Department of State Services. He is said to have attended a Radio programme in Owerri on Monday, 21st November, 2016 and was dropped off by his colleagues and that was the last time anyone had contact with him.
“His phones have been switched off. We are reliably informed that he is in the custody of the DSS. He has been there without communication and nobody, including his family members has been allowed access to him. This is most unfortunate.”
Dr. Duru warned against any attempt to muscle freedom of expression in the state, insisting that the people’s fundamental rights be respected.
The group recalled that Aku Obidimma, a former aide of Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, has been a fiery critic of his former boss.
The group is not sure however, if the arrest of Obidinma is connected to his critical stance against his former boss. [myad]
