Quote:Eniola Akinkuotu , Abuja



Documents have surfaced on how global rights group , Amnesty International , wrote letters to military dictators and high-handed Presidents demanding the release of several persons who are now key members of today’ s government .

Some of the personalities who AI intervened on their behalf include : President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress stalwart , Bola Tinubu ; a minister designate , Festus Keyamo ; and a former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba .

Others include : Buhari’s Political Adviser , Senator Babafemi Ojudu ; Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria , Bayo Onanuga ; and several others .

In its 1986 , 1987 and 1988 annual reports , AI lamented that Military President , Gen Ibrahim Babangida , had detained Buhari alongside his deputy , Tunde Idiagbon, without any charge following a bloodless coup on August 27 , 1985 .

In a letter dated July 21 , 1994 , and addressed to Abacha, AI declared Tinubu and five other senators as “ prisoners of conscience” having been detained by the military administration for several weeks .

In the letter, AI expressed concern at the “ continued remand in custody of Ameh Ebute , Chief Polycarp Nwite , Onyeka A . Okoroafor, Abu Ibrahim , the Reverend Dr Maconyemechi O. Nwulu and Bola Ahmed Tinubu , calling for their immediate and unconditional release on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience, detained for their non -violent political activities and criticism of the government .”

The rights group called for a halt to the “ prosecution of all those, whether in detention or currently released on bail , who have been charged with treasonable felony or other political offences and who would become prisoners of conscience if convicted and sentenced to prison terms . ”

The charges against Tinubu and the five other senators were later withdrawn .

In the case of Keyamo , who was an activist and protégé of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi ( SAN) , AI asked the then President , Olusegun Obasanjo to release him unconditionally .

Keyamo , the leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Future Republic of the Niger Delta, was probably detained for his public call for a wider autonomy for the Niger Delta region in southern Nigeria .

This followed President Obasanjo ’s public explanation in late December 2002 , of why he refused to sign a bill that would have given Nigeria’ s coastal states a percentage of revenue from offshore oil .

AI noted that Keyamo was being held incommunicado in detention without charge at an unknown location and was denied adequate food, clothes , and medical assistance .

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sule Lamido ; Attorney -General of the federation , Kanu Agabi ( SAN ); and Inspector- General of Police dated January 28 , 2003 , the rights group said Keyamo must be released immediately .

In the letter, AI, “ asked the authorities why he ( Keyamo ) has been arrested and detained without charge ; called for Festus Keyamo ’s current location to be made public ; called for guarantees that he would not be tortured or ill -treated while in detention ; and that he be released unless he is promptly charged with a recognisable criminal offence .”

Incidentally, none of those who AI fought for have spoken up against the government amid several allegations of rights abuses by the current government .

AI’ s office in Colorado , Maitama , has been witnessing protests from pro-Buhari groups in the last five days .
The protesters have criticised AI for being too critical of the Buhari government , adding that the rights group should leave Nigeria if it cannot support the President .