Executive Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has decried the arrest of the Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network, Mr. Dino Melaye, by the men of the Nigeria Police.
Executive Chairman of the anti-corruption group, Debo Adeniran, said the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, was the one that should be arrested not Melaye.
The ex-lawmaker was on Monday whisked to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command by a Special Team, led by one Patrick Ejoh, an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
The police officers were said to have arrived at Melaye’s office at about 5.20pm on Monday with a warrant of arrest for alleged “criminal intimidation and threat to life.”
But speaking on behalf of the coalition, Adediran condemned the “use of brute force by the Federal Government to silence the Nigerian people.”
He said, “This use of brute force to suppress Nigerians from airing their opinions on the corruption ravaging the country is antithetical to the spirit of true democracy.
“This arbitrary arrest is a violation of the fundamental rights of Mr. Melaye. It is very unfortunate all these are happening in a civilian regime.
“The minister that erred in her course of duty has not been arraigned, it is someone who protested against her misdemeanour that will be arraigned as we have been made to understand.
“At times, one wonders if we are actually practising democracy or still in the military regime? This is the highest level of absurdity.”
Adediran wondered why a protester would be arrested and the alleged offender (Oduah) was left free without being arraigned or tried.