The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to embark on a nationwide demonstration over the continued detention of Aminu Muhammad, a student of Federal University, Dutse.
NANS has issued a two-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, for the release of Muhammad.
The student association made the announcement through its northwest treasurer, Comrade Bashir Limanci, at a press conference.
It equally condemned the alleged unlawful arrest, detention and beating of Muhammad on the alleged order of the president’s wife.
The president’s wife recently come under criticism for allegedly ordering the arrest and detention of Muhammad over an alleged defamatory social media post.
Muhammad had in June 2022 tweeted in Hausa, ‘Su mama anchi kudin talakawa ankoshi’, which translates in English to ‘Mama has eaten the money of poor people’.
Development Diaries reports that Muhammad, 23, was arrested on 08 November, 2022.
Contravention of the law
Section 29 (b) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 states that ‘a suspect shall not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment’.
Also, section one (a) of the Anti-Torture Act states that ‘the government must ensure that the right of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority shall be subjected to physical harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation…’.
Furthermore, section 39 of the 1999 Constitution states that ‘every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference…’.
By virtue of the aforementioned sections, the arrest and torture of Muhammad over his freedom of speech is highly unconstitutional and those responsible for this unlawful action should be prosecuted.
It is therefore pertinent that the concerned authorities should see to it that Muhammad is released to his family as freedom of speech is one of the tenets of democracy.
Photo source: Hallmark News
