Odita Sunday 
HURIWA demands release of Nasarawa activist, warns against ‘weaponising’ criminal justice
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate release of Nasarawa activist Abdulkarim Allanana, popularly known as Oscar Keana, warning against what it described as the weaponisation of the criminal justice system to silence critics of government.
HURIWA said the continued detention and reported transfer of the activist were disturbing, particularly amid reports that additional charges could be brought against him.
Allanana, a media activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Nasarawa State, was recently remanded by the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia after being arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a two-count charge bordering on alleged false information against Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The court has adjourned the case until November 26 for hearing of his bail application.
According to HURIWA, Allanana has since been moved from the Lafia Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Nasarawa.
The organisation questioned the reason for the transfer, asking why a citizen who had not been convicted of any offence should be subjected to circumstances it said could further complicate or prolong his detention.
HURIWA also expressed concern over reports that fresh charges were being contemplated against the activist, although it stressed that it had not independently verified the alleged plan.
The group warned that if additional charges were being contemplated merely to frustrate Keana’s release or prolong his detention, such action would amount to an abuse of the criminal justice process.
“The government of Nigeria cannot proclaim respect for democracy while citizens allegedly face escalating legal jeopardy whenever their voices become uncomfortable to those holding political office,” HURIWA said.
It argued that public office holders must be able to tolerate criticism, stressing that occupying an elective position did not confer immunity from scrutiny.
“Public office is not a licence to silence criticism. A governor is not a monarch. A critic is not a criminal merely because his words are inconvenient,” the organisation said.
HURIWA warned state actors involved in the matter that constitutional freedoms were rights guaranteed to citizens and not privileges granted by political office holders.
It also cautioned against stretching or using subsidiary legislation to achieve what the Constitution does not permit.
“If Keana committed an offence, let the prosecution present its evidence before the court and allow the judicial process to take its lawful course,” the group said.
“But HURIWA will strongly resist any attempt to transform detention into punishment before conviction or to use successive allegations as a mechanism for keeping an accused person perpetually behind bars.”
The organisation insisted that detention must not become punishment and called for respect for the presumption of innocence, personal liberty, freedom of expression and the right of citizens to criticise government.
HURIWA consequently demanded that the authorities facilitate Keana’s immediate release on lawful bail conditions, subject to the determination of the court.
It also appealed to the judiciary to remain vigilant against any process that could unnecessarily deprive the accused of his liberty or frustrate his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
The group said it would oppose any attempt to deploy state machinery in a manner capable of intimidating citizens into silence.
“Nigeria did not return to constitutional democracy so that citizens could be frightened into submission by the threat of detention,” HURIWA said.
The organisation argued that the strength of democracy was demonstrated not by how government responded to its critics, but by its ability to tolerate dissent and allow the law to determine disputes.
HURIWA called on Governor Abdullahi Sule, the DSS, the Nigerian Correctional Service and relevant judicial authorities to ensure that Keana was not made a victim of what it described as an abuse of state power.
“Free Oscar Keana now. Let the court decide his case. Let democracy breathe,” the group said.
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