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MRA
Condemns Arrest and Detention of Police Sergeant Musa Usman
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) condemns the arrest and detention of Police
Sergeant Musa Usman by Police Authorities following his revelations about
the corruption and rot in the Nigerian Police Force. MRA views his arrest
and detention as an unwarranted assault on his right to freedom of
expression and his duty as a public servant to reveal wrongdoing in the
Police Force. We therefore call for his immediate and unconditional
release.
Sgt. Usman, a mobile policeman serving in Lagos State, had
on August 21, 2003, at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos, during a public forum
with the Minister for Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozomo, revealed
that the corruption in the Police was engendered by the abysmally low
wages of junior officers of the Police Force and the activities of their
superiors who encourage them to collect bribes from motorists at
roadblocks. He also revealed that the system was in many ways unfair to
junior officers while being over protective of senior officers.
Sgt. Usman and some of his colleagues spoke at that meeting
with the encouragement of the Minister for Police Affairs who asked them
to talk freely and honestly about the problems of the force as the
government was genuinely interested in solving the problems. Indeed, an
attempt by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Young Arabamenm to cut
off Sgt. Usman at the occasion was prevented by the Minister who asked the
Commissioner to return the microphone to the Sergeant to continue with his
comments.
Regrettably, less than one week after Sgt. Usman’s
revelations, Mr. Arabamen, told journalists on August 27, 2003, that the
state police authorities had arrested and detained him. This move is
apparently preparatory to his being dismissed from the Police Force.
MRA condemns in strong terms the action of the police in
arresting and detaining Sgt. Usman. It is a violation of his right to
freedom of expression. We also believe that it is the duty of everyone in
the public service at the Federal, State or Local Government levels, to
disclose information, which reveals corruption, mismanagement, fraud,
abuse of authority, or any other wrongdoing in the public service and that
the arrest of Sgt. Usman is contrary to this principle
We find it unconscionable that the Minister of Police
Affairs would encourage junior officers to speak freely about the problems
in the Police Force and expose them to reprisal actions from their
superior knowing that he is either incapable of unwilling o protect them.
It is clear from this develop that there is no sincerity in
the Government’s claim to be waging a war against corruption, particularly
in the Police Force.
MRA calls on President Olusegun Obasanjo, if he is serious
about his war against corruption, to urgently intervene in the matter to
ensure that Sgt. Usman is not prejudicially affected by the revelations he
has made. The President has consistently maintained that he needs people
to come forward with information about corrupt activities for his
government to be able to act. His purported war against corruption can
have no credibility if he does not protect those who suffer unjustly for
speaking up.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Osaro Odemwingie
Senior Programme Officer
Media Rights Agenda
Tel: 01-4936033, 4936034, 4819162
Fax: 01-4930831
E-mail: pubs@mediarightsagenda.org
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