The International Press Centre has berated the Department of State Services, DSS, for stalling the trial of Mr. Jones Abiri, a journalist who has been detained for over two years.
Abiri was arraigned on Thursday at a magistrate court in Abuja, having been held over the allegation that he is the leader of joint revolutionary council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, a separatist group.
His arraignment followed severe pressure from a Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, who filed a N200million suit against the DSS.
When arraigned, however, the case could not proceed because the DSS failed to produce its witnesses and the matter had to be adjourned till August 16.
Consequently, Mr. Jones Abiri was ordered remanded in Keffi prison.
But reacting on the development, IPC declared that it was quit irresponsible of the DSS to have failed to produce its witnesses thus frustrating the case.
Said the Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, according to a statement issued by the organisation’s Programme Officer, Melody Akinjiyan: “It was very irresponsible for the DSS to have failed to produce its witness after having illegally detained Abiri for two years and therefore effectively stalling his trial.”
Arogundade also noted that the stringent bail conditions imposed by the Court were unacceptable as it would be very difficult for Abiri, who the DSS had labelled a terrorist to get two Level 16 public officers as sureties.
“The attitude of the DSS showed that it did not have any case against Abiri and he should therefore be set free immediately and unconditionally,” the IPC boss said.
