The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Muhammadu Buhari led federal government of Nigeria to the United Nations over the continua detention of an activist, Moses Motoni by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
SERAP who in an appeal drew the UN’s attention to the arbitrary arrest and detention of anti-corruption defender Moses Motoni, urged the UN to prevail on the Nigerian government and Nigeria police force to immediately and unconditionally release him.
SERAP’s deputy director Timothy Adewale in the appeal dated 6 December said “We are seriously concerned that Mr Motoni is at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in detention. We consider his arrest and detention to be arbitrary, in contravention of Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and Nigeria’s international and regional human rights obligations including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Nigeria has ratified these human rights treaties.”
Adewale in the appeal said “Nigerian authorities are obligated to ensure that individuals are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily, and to safeguard detainees against other forms of abuse. Motoni’s arrest and detention has contributed to the violations of his other human rights particularly his rights to freedom of expression, association, and to be treated with humanity and dignity, and not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
We are also concerned that Motoni’s arrest may have been undertaken in response to his exercise of his rights as a human rights and anti-corruption defender. We note that under the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) Nigeria has a responsibility to protect and facilitate the work of human rights and anticorruption defenders, not curtail it.”
Moses Motoni, according to information made available to Inside Sources until his unlawful arrest was a has so far been denied bail and is being held in incommunicado detention, as the police has barred anyone from seeing him by ordering officers at the security post to either send away or detain anybody who came looking for him.
Inside Sources gathered that Motoni’s arrest was ordered by lawmakers for sensitizing citizens on the budget of Niger State was arrested in Kaduna State by some unidentified SARS personnel who disguised as delivery men from DHL Nigeria, and was taken to Metro police station, Enugu road, Kaduna for doing his work in Niger state.
Mr. Motoni is a human rights and anti-corruption defender who has peacefully exercised his right to freedom of expression to advocate for the rights of others, and sensitize the citizens on budgets.
