The attention of the National Human Rights Commission has been drawn to the arrest and detention of Mr. Deji Adeyanju, Civil Rights Activist and Social Critic, by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a petition forwarded to the Commission by the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Adeyanju had severally been detained by the Police in Abuja and finally taken to
Kano on Tuesday, 18th December, 2018 for an offence allegedly committed in 2009 which had been decided already by the court and he was discharged and acquitted.
The Commission condemns the process of constant harassment and intimidation of any human right defender and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the harassment and incarceration of Mr. Adeyanju.
In any circumstances, Mr. Adeyanju remains a suspect and should be accorded all the due rights guaranteed under the Constitution until proven guilty by giving him access to his lawyers and members of his
family without any acts of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or threat to his personal safety and security.
The Commission is delighted that Mr. Adeyanju was arraigned at a Magistrate Court today and demands speedy trial of his case.
The Commission will monitor the trial in this case to ensure that justice is done and enjoins the judiciary not to be used to unduly intimidate or harass any human rights defender including Mr. Adeyanju.
Tony Ojukwu, Esq.
Executive Secretary
National Human Rights Commission
19th December, 2018
