A group of concerned citizens of Benue State on Wednesday described as illegal, unconstitutional, unethical and immoral the continued detention of former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Operating under the aegis of Benue Concerned Citizens, the group called on the DSS to immediately release the former governor or charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction for whatever offence he is being held for.
Former Governor Suswam has been in the custody of the DSS since February 25, 2017 when he honoured the invitation of DSS to appear before it.
Efforts to get him out of detention or have the DSS charge him to court since his detention proved abortive as the DSS claimed that his release would jeopardise peace in Benue State.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, leader of the Benue Concerned Citizens, Hon Tim Nyor, said the continued detention of Dr Suswam was not only unconstitutional but a gross abuse of his fundamental human rights.
According to Nyor, concerned citizens of Benue State condemned the continued incarceration of the former governor, who he said was denied access to medical attention and treatment for two months, putting his health at risk.
“As a constitutional democracy, the Nigerian state must always act within the provisions of the law no matter the attraction to do otherwise. In this instance, the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended is very clear that nobody shall be detained for more than 48 hours without being charged to court. It is unconstitutional therefore that he has been kept incommunicado for over two months.
“The fundamental human rights of this Benue leader, Gabriel Suswam have been grossly abused. This brazen violation of the constitutional provisions by the DSS in this case must stop forthwith. We demand the unconditional release of this Benue leader” the group said.
Hon Nyor expressed worry at the seeming interference of the Benue State government in a matter that should be purely security.
“We are further perturbed and mist embittered by statements emanating from the DSS that petitions from the Benue State government alleged that his release would make Benue State ungovernable. We decry the conspiratorial complicities of governments and government institutions in matters of security and personal freedom.
“It is unjust, unconstitutional and immoral that he is been made to serve a prison term even before trial by his continued detention. It is regrettable that he is made to serve this grave injustice after serving meritoriously as governor of a state,” the group said.
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