Human rights activist and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, has given Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) 48 hours to release the 10 Cameroonian separatists in its custody.
In a letter addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the senior lawyer threatened to approach the court to demand for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights if the DSS failed to act.
Ten members of the Movement for the independence of Southern Cameroonians were arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Friday in Abuja.
Falana wrote, “Take notice therefore that if our clients are not released from illegal custody or arraigned in court within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to apply to the Federal High Court to secure the enforcement of their fundamental rights to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“The 10 Cameroonians include: “Mr. Julius Tabe, Mr. Wilfred Tassang, Dr. Nfor Nfor, Prof. Augustine Awasom, Dr. Cornelius Kwanga, Dr. Henry Kimeng, Elias Eyambe, Nalova Bih, Dr. Ojong Okongo and Dr. Fidelis Che – came into Nigeria legally.
“Our clients are the leaders of the movement agitating for the creation of the Republic of Ambazonia in Cameroon. Our clients are not illegal immigrants in Nigeria as some of them have been granted political asylum by the Federal Government while others have valid permanent resident status in Nigeria apart from Prof. Augustine Awasom who is a United States citizen.
“Our clients were assembled for a meeting at Nera Hotel, Abuja on Saturday, January 6, 2018. However, before the commencement of the meeting a team of armed operatives of the State Security Service invaded the venue, abducted our clients and took them away to an undisclosed place.
“By not disclosing information on the abduction to the relatives of the Cameroonians, the DSS violated section 6 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,” the lawyer said.