It has been brought to my attention that Mr. @HarrisonBbi18, an activist who has been fighting police extortion and impunity in Delta State, is being held illegally at FCID Alagbon in Lagos over a petition by a SARS operative in Delta State. He has been in custody since Tuesday.
The police command in Delta has been looking for an opportunity to deal with Harrison for constantly exposing rogue officers. He had earlier petitioned the same SARS operative who is now the complainant. @PoliceNG detaining Harrison on phony allegations of defamation and cultism.
@PoliceNG at Alagbon refused to charge him to court but imposed impossible bail conditions (three sureties) on him: 1. A level 14 civil servant; 2. A surety with landed property in specific parts of Lagos; 3. A surety with international passport who has visited the US and Europe.
These conditions are onerous and illegal. Requirement of civil servants as sureties has been declared illegal by the Court of Appeal. It is ludicrous that after detaining Harrison beyond the period allowed by law, the police imposed excessive & outrageous bail conditions on him.
The Police at Alagbon later claimed that they were willing to accept any reasonable surety. Harrison produced a reasonable surety but they rejected it. Now I understand that they are waiting for clearance from the Commissioner of Police in Delta State before releasing him.
The complainant (the SARS operative) and Harrison are based in Delta State. But the complainant and those backing him left Delta Police Command and went to Lagos to file a compliant. This was deliberately orchestrated to punish Harrison since he has limited contacts in Lagos.
I am calling on the @PoliceNG_CRU to look into this case. Harrison's rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed by Sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution have been breached. His continued detention is an affront to the rule of law.
#FreeHarrisonGwamnishu
Meanwhile, I'm in contact with a lawyer that has been working on the case. I'll do whatever I can legally to assist in securing his release. #FreeHarrisonGwamnishu
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