Daily Independent (Lagos)
Joe Nwankwo
27 October 2008
Abuja — Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) on Sunday cried out over continued detention of the United States-based online journalist, Jonathan Elendu, by Nigeria's security agencies.
It also expressed serious concern over the reported deteriorating condition of health of the journalist.
Elendu has been held in solitary confinement by the State Security Service (SSS) for over nine days and without charge.
He was arrested at the Abuja International Airport on arrival from the U.S. last week.
According to the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Onwubike, "Elendu's counsel, Ugo Muoma, informed us that although no contact has been established with the blogger since his arrest nine days ago, he was however reliably informed that Elendu was being kept in inhuman conditions and tortured to either disclose the sources of the several embarrassing news reports on prominent political leaders in Nigeria.
"He was also being reportedly pressured into framing up some others."
Apparently afraid of poisoning, Elendu is said to have gone without food and water for the past nine days, and has vowed to continue the hunger strike until he is released.
"As a human rights body, HURIWA condemns the SSS resort to torture (physical and psychological) to extract information from Mr. Jonathan Elendu.
"It is unimaginable that the SSS would resort to Stone Age methods of extracting information in a brazen breach of the fundamental human rights of Mr. Jonathan Elendu in an administration that has made respect for the rule of law its mantra," Onwubike said.
The human rights activist also stated that "equally condemnable is the reported transfer of Elendu from the custody of the SSS to that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possible arraignment for money laundering, since SSS appears to have come to the end of the road.
"If true, this calls to question the competence of the SSS as an intelligence and security organisation."
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While I do not subscribe to the illegal detention of any human being being I could be a victim too one day, I take exception to some of the things that the online media has been used to do to both individuals and institutions in Nigeria. Journalism is a sacred and prized art that has ensured freedom for human societies notably in South Africa, Germany, United States of America and other places. Even in Nigeria it played great role in gaining our independence. Therefore, it has become absurd to see increasing number of people quickly rush to open websites for… [Read Full Text]
Malam Tarry-A-Doer, are we supposed to be scared & shaking in our boots as a result of this latest development? How many Elendus are you going to arrest? B4 you blink, your prison will be overflowing with all the truth seekers that refuse to dance to your tune of dictatorship, while the real criminal gangsters of pickpockets & armed robbers are roaming the streets of Abuja free as jailbirds calling themselves “honorable” and “excellencies”. If you are not familiar with the Nigerian Constitution – as flawed as it is, I would suggest you go revisit the section that deals with… [Read Full Text]
Kaparah, I am less concerned with the travails of jonathan elendu because am sure the rule of law will prevail. If he is guilty, we will eventually know, if not we will also know. What am concerned with is the poor moral standards some us critics continuously exhibit. An objective mind will attack the truth no matter whose interest is gored. How objective have we been in relation to the President as well as the online media. Perhaps, we do not know the magnitude of the insult that has been traded on the President's person. My grievances against President Yarádua's… [Read Full Text]
Hello Sholatogun, thank you for your well thought-out admonishment to my write up. In fact, I will strongly encourage you to call me whatever you like “including Kaarah a naive, ignorant, ill-informed thief”. At least you mentioned me by name and you didn’t generalize that “ALL Nigerians are ignorant, ill-informed thief” as we in Diaspora are proned to be blamed for the dastardly act of our home govt including their 419 kingpin hiding out in the Senate. But of course, you are free to defend the same hooligans that ran this wealthy country into a ditch of poverty in all… [Read Full Text]
I go with the idea of joeligile. Many of us derive joy from castigating people without any concern for the truth. Yes! Jonathan elendu is being detained under circumstances that are not quite clear but one thing is clear-his publications have fallen short of humane responsibility and he is not the only one in that direction. In recent times, some of us with connections to the local media has become increasingly worried by the antics of some website publishers who really collect huge sums in order to run down rival politicians and State as well as Federal Governments. Many times… [Read Full Text]
THE UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF A JOURNALIST FOR NINE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD,AND NOT CHARGING HIM FOR ANY OFFENCE IS A BREACH OF THE RULE OF LAW,AS WELL AS THE VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS.WHY SHOULD OUR GOVT. PERMIT THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT ON A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING FOR WHICH WE BLAME MILITARY GOVTS.WHY SHOULD OUR DEMOCRATIC GOVT.AT ABUJA ALLOW ITS NAME TO BE SO DRAGGED TO THE MUD WHEN OTHER AFRICAN DEMOCRACIES EXPECT MUCH FROM NIGERIA? WHEN THEY FIND NOTHING TO CHARGE MR ENENDU FOR THEY HAVE TURNED ROUND TO CHARGE HIM OF… [Read Full Text]