The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has condemned the reported arbitrary detention and release of U.S.-based novelist and author Okey Ndibe by the President Bola Tinubu administration upon his arrival in Nigeria.
Ndibe was allegedly picked up by State Security Service, SSS, agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday. He was later released after the secret service claimed the officer handling his case file had travelled out of the country.
Reacting, SERAP said Ndibe should never have been detained in the first place for peacefully exercising his human rights.
The group argued that the detention forms part of an escalating crackdown on human rights in Nigeria, particularly the increasing use of the DSS to harass, intimidate, and target critics, human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organisations for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
SERAP contended that detaining writers, journalists, activists, or other critics for peacefully exercising their rights is patently unlawful and incompatible with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, and Nigeria’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In a post on its official X handle on Monday, SERAP said: “NO one should face harassment, intimidation or arbitrary detention because of their opinions, writing or peaceful criticism of those in power. These authoritarian practices by the Tinubu government MUST END.”
SERAP challenged the Tinubu government to immediately clarify the legal basis for Ndibe’s detention, ensure full transparency on the circumstances, and guarantee that the DSS and other security agencies do not misuse their powers to harass, intimidate, or target individuals for peacefully exercising their rights, including freedom of expression.
The rights group also called on the government to provide Ndibe access to justice and effective remedies.
It said: “Freedom of expression is guaranteed under section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These protections extend to opinions that may challenge, criticise, or offend public authorities.”
SERAP added that arbitrary detention is prohibited under section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter.
“The Tinubu government must respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of everyone in the country. The Tinubu government must immediately end the harassment and intimidation of writers, journalists, activists and other peaceful critics; ensure accountability where rights have been violated; and provide effective guarantees of non-repetition,” SERAP said.
The group called on United Nations and African Union human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to publicly condemn Ndibe’s arbitrary detention and send a clear message to the Tinubu government that repression of Nigerians’ rights will carry serious consequences for Nigeria’s human rights standing and international reputation.
Okey Ndibe: Detention Part of Escalating Crackdown on Human Rights, SERAP Tells Tinubu
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