NOPRIN CONDEMNS THE ARBITRARY DETENTION OF AKU OBIDINMA, NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF IMO BILIE INITIATIVE (IBIN); CALLS ON DSS TO RESPECT HIS DUE PROCESS GUARANTEES.

Network on Police Reform in Nigeria – NOPRIN has just received the information that the Department of State Security (DSS) Imo State arrested Aku Obidinma, National Coordinator of Imo Bilie Initiative (IBIN) and has kept him in arbitrary detention at their State headquarters in Owerri since Monday when they arrested him.

Akudinma has been held incommunicado- denied access to everyone.

NOPRIN is informed that Akudinma attended a radio program in Owerri on Monday and was dropped off by his colleagues who accompanied him to the radio program. Thereafter, his phones have remained switched off and unreachable. His whereabouts had been unknown until this morning.

According to the IBN General Secretary Obidinma has been detained without communication by the DSS since Monday. All our efforts to see him today didn’t work as they insisted that it is tomorrow we will see him. The DSS said they have warned him to stop and he refused, that they will now deal with it as a criminal matter…’ However, the DSS refused to reveal what it was they warned Obidinma against. IBIN strongly suspects that his arrest may be politically motivated.

NOPRIN condemns the arrest and secret detention of Obidinma without allowing him to contact anyone or even on their own contacting and informing his family or anyone of his choice.

The action of the DSS violates legally established procedures for arrest and detention. Obidinma’s rights to personal liberty, human dignity and due process have been flagrantly violated.
NOPRIN calls for the immediate release of Aku Obidinma and an end to unconstitional and undemocratic approaches to law enforcement.

Okechukwu Nwanguma

National Coordinator