Adeyanju: CSOs accuse FG of ethno-religious bias

A coalition of civil society organisations has raised worries over the travail of Abuja-based activist, Deji Adeyanju who is being remanded in the Kano Central Prison.

The group accused the Federal Government of being ethno-religious bias in Adeyanju’s travail.

While demanding the release of the human rights activist, the group questioned the government for stopping family members, friends and associates from visiting the activist who will remain in the prison till February 6 following his arraignment by the police before a Kano magistrate court in December.

The groups in a statement signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution; Raphael Adebayo of Our Mumu Don Do Movement; and Moses Paul of MadConnect, in Abuja, on Tuesday, say the latest move by the government was questionable and demanded the immediate release of Adeyanju.

The statement read in part, “We will continue to ask why the Nigeria Police ordered the arrest of Deji Adeyanju, the only Yorùbá-Christian out of four persons namely: Alhaji Muhammad Baba, Adeyanju, Musa Daura and Kabiru Ahmad, who were discharged and acquitted in 2009 in Kano, in a case of culpable homicide.

“The fact that the rest are Hausa-Fulani Muslims has further exposed the ethno-religious bias and vendetta of the divisive administration that has consistently tried to widen our fault lines as a nation.

He continued, “There is credible information, and as reported by a popular online medium, that the regime, through the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, has ordered the Nigerian Prisons Service to stop visitors, including friends and family members, from visiting Deji Adeyanju in the Kano Prison.

Read also: Oyo APA questions Gov Ajimobi’s motive for seeking forgiveness

“We, therefore, consider this wicked and unlawful directive as a prelude to carrying out whatever hidden lethal plot they have against him.”

The activists said they were worried about Adeyanju’s safety and demanded his immediate release as directed by Justice Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Francis Enobore denied the allegation saying there had never been restriction of access to inmates by the federal government.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now