Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has charged the Nigeria Police to avoid unlawful detention of citizens, and ensure that every arrest made, is with an order of a competent court.
CITAD Digital Rights Program Officer, Ali Sabo made the call during a press briefing held in Kano.
According to him, the media parley was organized to draw the attention of the Nigerian authorities, and other stakeholders to bring to an end to the continued harassment and detention of citizens online.
He stressed that, harassments and continued detention of citizens, without following due process is negating the principles of democracy, which is being practiced in Nigeria and absolute abuse of the human rights of the citizens as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.
“Anybody arrested for any offence shall be taken to court within specified period of time as in the Nigeria constitution”
The Program Officer maintained that, last month a similar press conference was organized, to call on the Nigerian Government to assent to the Digital Rights Bill in the Country, which would pave way for digital development and guaranteed citizens’ rights and protection on the internet.
Ali Sabo stressed that if passed, the digital Rights Bill, would ensure application of the human rights, which applies offline and online within the digital environment and ensure due process with regards to arrest of anybody deemed to have committed any offence.
He hinted that, in the last few months, the country had witnessed series of unlawful arrest of citizens, saying that, the arbitrary arrests were against section IV of the Nigerian constitution and international covenant of human and people’s rights.
“Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with section (1) (C) of this section shall be brought before a court of law within reasonable time”.
The Program Officer, advised civil society organizations to collaborate and work together in advocating and ensuring that the digital rights bill becomes a reality.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to assent to the digital rights and freedom Bill, as soon as it is transmitted to him, to bring an end to the arbitrary arrest of the citizens by the Nigerian Security Agencies.
KHADIJAH ALIYU