…Demands cessation of persecution of NBA ex-boss, Agu
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has tasked the Imo State Government with respecting human rights.
RULAAC particularly called on Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Commissioner for Information to stop the persecution of rights activists.
The call comes on the heels of the invitation issued by the Imo State Police Command to Barrister Chinedu Agu, former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch.
Agu’s invitation stemmed from a petition by the Ministry of Information alleging “criminal defamation” and “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace” against the NBA former boss.
According to RULAAC, Agu’s “offence appears to be his consistent, lawful, and constructive criticism of governance in Imo State—particularly on issues of constitutional compliance and the administration of justice.”
RULAAC, in a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, cautioned the State Government against trampling on democracy.
RULAAC said there was nothing wrong with the opinions expressed by the NBA former boss about governance in Imo State.
The statement read: “His advocacy, expressed through articles and public commentary, falls squarely within the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“It is important to underscore that allegations of defamation—even if credible—are civil in nature and not criminal offences. Judicial pronouncements in Nigeria are consistent that defamation is a personal tort, and the appropriate remedy is for the aggrieved person to file a civil action before a court of competent jurisdiction. The police should not be weaponised as an instrument of harassment or intimidation in what is essentially a civil dispute.
“In a democracy, criticism is not a crime. Freedom of expression includes the right to voice opinions that those in power may find uncomfortable or inconvenient. Leaders must be tolerant of scrutiny and dissent; these are the lifeblood of democratic governance. Where they feel boundaries have been crossed, the proper recourse is civil litigation, not unlawful repression.”
RULAAC therefore called on the Nigeria Police “to immediately discontinue the invitation and any criminal proceedings against Barr. Chinedu Agu, as they constitute an abuse of process and a violation of his constitutional rights.”
It also called on the Imo State Government “and its officials to desist from using state power to persecute citizens for holding them accountable.”
RULAAC further urged “Gov. Uzodinma and his administration to embrace democratic norms, engage with constructive criticism in good faith, and govern transparently.”
“The world is watching. Imo citizens, Nigerians, and the broader international community will not ignore any attempt to drag the State back to an era of repression and impunity,” the statement said.
“Freedom of expression is the bedrock of democracy. To criminalise it is to erode the very foundation of governance under law,” RULAAC added.
