A United States-based human rights group, Justice For All?Nations (JFAN) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohamed Abubakar over what it called “an unlawful arrest and detention” of Mr. Lere Olayinka, media aide to the?Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman (Southwest),?Chief Segun Oni.
?
The United States-based human rights group also berated the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over the incident, saying that the police officers that were used to perpetrate the “evil act” must be investigated and brought to justice.
?
The group, which also described the refusal of the Ado-Ekiti?Magistrate Court to grant Olayinka bail as strange said; “The?Magistrate Court acted strangely by refusing Olayinka bail on the?premise that the bail application must be written and only the?Magistrate, Soji Adegboye can explain why a man, who is not standing?trial for murder, armed robbery, treason or fraud could be put in?detention for seven days.”
?
In a release issued to journalists in Washington DC on Sunday by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, JFAN?said it never for one day thought that a journalist could be arrested
and charged to court for sedition in a state where someone like Dr.?Fayemi was the governor, adding that; “We are alarmed and no longer?know who to trust among these politicians in Nigeria again! Or was it?power that has corrupted Dr Fayemi this much?”
?
JFAN said; “First and foremost, when has it become the duty of?policemen deployed to the government house to be the ones to arrest?suspect who was not at the scene of any crime as was done to Mr.?Olayinka, who was eating at a restaurant where he was arrested?
?
“Again, when has it become an offence for someone to criticise?government on social media or even conventional media?
?
“If Fayemi could descend to the tyrannical level of sending government?house policemen against Mr. Olayinka, a known critic of the?government, what should President Goodluck Jonathan do to the Action?Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Spokesperson, Lai Mohammed and other critics?of the president like Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Dino Melaye, Kayode?Ogundamisi who criticise the president 24 hours daily?
?
“We are therefore highly disappointed in Governor Fayemi over his?government's intolerance for opposition and it is worrisome that?Fayemi, who was among those that were at the forefront of the struggle?against military rule and abuse of peoples' rights is now behaving?like a tyrant even as democratically elected governor.
?
“We are also by this statement warning Governor Fayemi of the dire?consequences of his government's clampdown on opposition and urging?well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the governor not to throw Ekiti?State into chaos.
?
“Lastly, it is our call that Mr. Olayinka must be released forthwith?and all the phoney charges against him dropped with an unreserved?apology from the governor.”
?
It would be recalled that Mr. Lere Olayinka, a journalist and media assistant to the PDP Vice-Chairman in the South West was last week arrested by a group of policemen.
?
He was later charged for sedition in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate court where the Presiding Magsitrate, Soji Adegboye refused to grant him bail based on the fact that his lawyer made the application orally.