Seun Awogbenle demands immediate release of 2 Kwara Journalists 

Author and Youth Advocate Seun Awogbenle has demanded the immediate release of the two Kwara journalists that were arrested by the Kwara State Police Command on Thursday.

Awogbenle in a statement on Friday in Lagos, said that the arbitrary arrest and subsequent prosecution of Dare Akogun and his brother Abdulrasheed Akogun over their comment in an open WhatsApp group, as unlawful and repressive.

He said it was unfortunate that the same people who are now bent on demonizing dissent and criminalising free-speech, rode to power on the crest of “misinformation, propaganda and outright falsehood.

“The pageant of nonsense currently playing out in Kwara is mortifying and alarming. The crude use of power to intimidate, oppress and cajole by those in authority, while hiding under the guise of defamation, to bring political opponents to their knees. This action would have been surprising, if it were not that the template is all too familiar.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the right to free speech is a fundamental right that is rooted in our laws. Any attempt to take this right away, in the form of repression, persecution or the arbitrary use of state apparatus to silence criticism and censure, is considered unacceptable.”

Awogbenle said the detention of Dare and Abdulrasheed in handcuffs in a case that is categorized as civil under our laws is a violation of their right to human dignity. He warned those trying to take Nigeria back to the days of yore as in the Military junta, where journalists were unlawfully arrested and detained for doing nothing.

“The case of Dare and Abdulrasheed, is a reminder of the dark days of yore, where journalists were either arrested, detained or even killed for doing nothing. Those who are trying to take us back to those times, must be reminded that the people would resist them”.

He called for the immediate release of the journalists, noting that their arrest would not stand even a simple legal test, “the two journalists must be immediately released without further delay.” He said.

“All those who are involved in this naked abuse of power, must be reminded that their action would come into reckoning either now or later. They will be remembered in ignominy, for fighting the people they swore an oath to protect. The world is watching.” The statement concluded.