The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has admitted that multiple-award winning investigative journalist Adejuwon Soyinka, was arrested in error, a development the International Press Institute (IPI) described as incompetence by operatives.
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that Soyinka was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International airport, shortly after arriving on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London, on Sunday, August, 25 2024, was subsequently held and interrogated for about 8 hours at both the airport command of the agency and at the Ikoyi office in Lagos.
The investigative journalist was thereafter released after proactive intervention of the International Press Institute (IPI), but held on to his passport, until Friday when Soyinka visited the operatives office with his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong to retrieve the passport
Penpushing further reports that agency claimed it was a case of possible mistaken identity, which the human rights activist and public interest lawyer, said came to him as a surprise, while the secret police had earlier claimed that the arrest was that Soyinka’s name was placed on its watchlist on the request of an unnamed government agency
The President of International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria Chapter Musikilu Mojeed in a statement said it was shocking that the State Security Service (SSS) could violate the rights of a law-abiding citizen the way it did.
Penpushing also reports that the institute declared that it will consult with Soyinka to decide how to respond to this unbelievable demonstration of incompetence by operatives of a key intelligence agency of the country
‘The Nigerian chapter of the International Press (IPI Nigeria) is shocked that the SSS could violate the rights of a law-abiding citizen the way it did. IPI Nigeria will consult with Mr Soyinka to decide how to respond to this unbelievable demonstration of incompetence by operatives of a key intelligence agency’, Mojeed wrote
‘There must be accountability in this matter. All those involved in the unfortunate saga must answer for their roles. A good starting point is for the SSS to issue a formal apology to Mr Soyinka for the inconveniences and psychological anguish caused him’, the statement emphasised
“Also, we will like a commitment from the agency that it will henceforth desist from exhibiting this kind of reckless, undemocratic, and unprofessional behaviour towards law-abiding citizens’, the statement added
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