Democracy on trial in Nigeria?

I find Judith Asuni’s story very interesting, not because she’s an American-Nigerian thrown into detention on what she terms trumped-up allegations, but because there are millions like her in the same circumstance. Remembering my own experience, with my colleagues in 1994, we were put in jail because we protested against a tyrant who, by some bizarre twist of luck, had been entrusted with heading the only University in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This man, a very morally bankrupt character, known as Isa Mohammed, a so-called professor of Mathematics and who at best was a Chancellor in Vice rather than a Vice Chancellor insisted that we had offended the ‘powers that be’ by rising against his criminality. So be it - we were hunted like some common criminals and held incommunicado for several months. Even after court orders were passed to release us, he, backed by the late General Abacha’s men like Deputy Inspector General of Police Archibong Nkana and some powerful military officers as well as traditional rulers, flouted the orders with impunity. In that manner many of us were made to pay costly prices. Today, Mrs Asuni is alleging the same thing. If the government is hoping to be upright, unlike OBJ’s, which spent the best of its two tenures pursuing real and perceived enemies, it should properly follow due process in dealing with Mrs Asuni’s case. After all democracy does not end in rhetoric; let us see justice done.
If you want to know more about Judith Asuni’s travail. This piece of story I found in the Daily Trust could be helpful. Enjoy.

The family of a Niger Delta activist suspected of espionage, Mrs Judith Asuni, has petitioned President Umar Yar’Adua and the Human Rights Watch on account of the abuse of the activist’s rights.

Judith Asuni is spending her 19th day in State Security Service (SSS) detention after she was arrested along with two Germans over espionage allegation.

According to a petition dated 13th October 2007 and signed by the eldest daughter of Dr Asuni, Dr. Bolanle Asuni-Limahn, Dr Asuni has been denied access to her counsel and family members and provision of medical attention delayed.

"Many of these denials were in flagrant disobedience of court orders on the rights of Dr Asuni as given severally by Justice Binta Nyako," the petition stated.

"As a leader who has made respect for human rights the cornerstone of your administration, we plead with you in the name of God to prevail on the SSS to respect the rights of Mrs Asuni and obey all the court orders given in that respect," the petition pleads".

The family disclosed that the 60-year-old activist has suffered electric shock in SSS detention but was not provided medical attention until 16 hours later in spite of frantic and persistent requests by her.

"She is presently carrying a cut in her hand and has not been provided with medical attention at the time of writing this appeal", the petition added.

The two Germans who were accused with Dr. Asuni have been released to the German Embassy in Nigeria.