SAVE NUHU RIBADU CAMPAIGN

We, the undersigned, are very concerned about the unlawful arrest and detention and possible torture (or ill and degrading treatment) of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

We are deeply worried that on Saturday 22 November 2008, Mr Nuru Ribadu was forcefully dragged out of the hall of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies by the security forces during a graduation ceremony. His whereabouts are unknown, and he may have been tortured or ill-treated by the security agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria. According to reports, the Attorney General of the Federation was present at the time of Mr Ribadus arrest, and may have ordered Mr Ribadus arrest by the security agents.
We are also saddened that Mr Ribadus arrest and detention is based solely on his human rights and anticorruption campaign while he was the Chairman of EFCC.
We believe his arrest and detention and continuing harassment is a serious violation of the provisions of the of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) adopted by the General Assembly in 1999. Mr Ribadus arrest and detention also violates several provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Convention against Corruption and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a party. Specifically, Article 6 of the African Charter guarantees in broad terms the right to liberty and security. No one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained, added the organization.
We are worried that the unlawful arrest and detention of a human rights and anticorruption campaigner is retaliatory, and raises doubts about the willingness of the government of Nigeria to fight corruption and to uphold its good faith obligations to its citizens, including under the UN Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

We are further concerned that coming at a time when Nigeria is hosting the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in Abuja, Mr Ribadus arrest and detention is not consistent with the attitude of a government supposedly committed to the rule of law.

We therefore call on President YarAdua to publicly condemn Mr Ribadus arrest, and to order his immediate release. President YarAdua should give instruction to the security agents to stop further arrest, harassment, intimidation and attacks against Mr Ribadu.

We also call on the members of the international community, especially the UN, the African Union, and the European Union to put pressure on the government of Nigeria to immediately release Mr Ribadu from unlawful detention and to stop further threats of arrest, harassment and intimidation against him.