Monday 26 February 2018

Abuja, Nigeria:


Woman Persecuted for Housing “Ambazonians”
The Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria is set to hear a suit on March 2, filed by Mrs Augustine Winifred, challenging her arrest and detention by authorities.
Winifred, a Taraba State indigene was arrested for allegedly accommodating Cameroonian refugees, her lawyer Femi Falana says.
            Falana hopes the court declares her detention at the police head quarters in Abuja illegal and frees her immediately.
            The human rights lawyer will also be seeking to an order to force the Nigerian police to release four Naturalised Nigerias from Cameroon who are Dr John Ojong Okongho, Nsoh Nabowah Bih, ThankGod Genesis and Nasiru Bah.
            The four were transferred to the police while 47 other persons arrested were handed over to Cameroonian authorities where they have been held incommunicado.
            According to Abdul Oroh, who has been providing legal support for the detainees, ”two out of the five in custody are among the 12 leaders of the group the Nigerian government arrested last month.”

            Leader of the separatists, Julius Ayuk Tabe and 11 others who reportedly gathered at Nera Hotels Abuja on January 6 to discuss the influx of thousands of Cameroonian asylum seekers to Nigeria following protests in October were arrested and detained by Nigerian security for about a month. About 39 other Ambasonian separatist leaders were detained in Taraba. Dozens of those arrested were handed over to Cameroon authorities by the Nigerian government.
            According to Mr. Abdul, there was uncertainty over the number of the separatists deported and the ones still in custody because the Nigerian government failed to announce the deportation which is being celebrated by Cameroonian authorities as a major victory in a clampdown on Mr. Tabe and other leaders of the self-proclaimed Ambasonia state.
            The court will also be hearing same day another suit filed by Falana challenging the deportation of the 47 Cameroonian accused of secession.




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