Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: My brief detention

Arbitrary and extra-legal detention of citizens has no place in a democratic society. This was the subject of my memo to the late president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adu, published in the "Newswatch" weekly news magazine on January 11, 2009 (hereby attachment). The detention of Professor Okey Ndibe should be strongly condemned.

--
Chris W. Ogbondah, Ph.D.
Professor of Journalism
Co-ordinator of Mass Communication Program
Department of Communication Studies
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Phone: 319-273-5913
Fax: 319-273-7356

--- Original Message ---
> Okey Ndibe on his arrest by the SSS. This afternoon, he sent
> a follow-up email to inform us that he managed to get his
> passports back after meeting with the SSS Director.
>  
> May democracy flourish in Nigeria!
>  
> Kwabby
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Okey Ndibe <okndibe@yahoo.com>
> To: Okey Ndibe <okndibe@yahoo.com>
> Sent: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 12:40 pm
> Subject: My brief detention
> Hello,
>  
> I'd like to inform you that officers of the Nigerian State
> Security Service (SSS) briefly detained me last night on my
> arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
> After asking a few questions about my column for a Nigerian
> newspaper (and several websites), the interrogating officer
> released me. However, he seized my Nigerian and American
> passports and directed me to report to their Lagos headquarters
> Monday morning to see the agency's director.
>  
> The report of my brief detention has been published on numerous
> Nigerian websites (www.saharareporters.com (http://www.saharareporters.com/)
> and www.nigeriavillagesquare.com (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/))
> and I have received calls and e-mails expressing support. I
> am buoyed by these expressions of solidarity and goodwill.
>  
> I'll keep you apprised of developments.
>  
> Okey
> --
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