(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: **New cases and update to IFEX alert of 28 April 1999** London, 30 April 1999 For immediate release ALARM RAISED OVER NEW ATTACKS IN NIGERIA Nigeria is about to be taken off the international danger list, yet on the ground repression continues, according to […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
**New cases and update to IFEX alert of 28 April 1999**
London, 30 April 1999
For immediate release
ALARM RAISED OVER NEW ATTACKS IN NIGERIA
Nigeria is about to be taken off the international danger list, yet on the
ground repression continues, according to ARTICLE 19, the international
human rights group. For example Lanre Arogundade, a leading Nigerian
journalist and trade unionist, has been detained without charge since last
Sunday, and in the last week workers attempting to exercise their right to
peaceful assembly and protest in Jos have been tear-gassed, with 10 union
leaders arrested.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“It beggars belief that the Commonwealth and UN are prepared to give the
Nigerian regime a clean bill of health while a barrage of repressive decrees
remain in force and there is effectively no constitution. Law enforcement
agencies seem to be continuing with repressive business as usual –
regardless of the impending handover to civilian rule on 29 May.”
Lanre Arogundade was arrested by plainclothes police at his home on Sunday
25 April. He is being held at Iyaganku Police Station, the Headquarters of
the Oyo state police in Ibadan. It appears that he was arrested on the basis
of petitions from his political opponents. ARTICLE 19 understands that some
of those who made the petitions have been compelled to make formal
statements by police.
Andrew Puddephatt said:
“It is clear that due process has been completely absent in the arrest of
Lanre Arogundade There are no legitimate grounds for his continued
detention, and ARTICLE 19 demands that he is released immediately.”
Notes
Lanre Arogundade is the Chairman of the Council of the Lagos branch of the
Nigerian Union of Journalists.
