Human Rights Activist, Professor Maurice Fagnon Arrested By Force CID, Abuja

Police Officers attached with Force Criminal Investigation
Department, Abuja arrested a leading human rights activist in
Lagos, Professor Maurice Fangnon of Centre for Democracy and Human
Rights in Africa in the afternoon of Wednesday, 19th July, 2017 and
detained him first of all overnight at the FCID Annex, Alagbon
Close, Ikoyi, Lagos before moving him in the early hours of
Thursday, 20th July, 2017 to FCID Headquarters, Abuja. What is not
clear as at press time is the exact charge or allegation for which
he was arrested.

According to his lawyer, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi, who was in the
company of his son, Femi Dodo a legal practitioner, who was with
him at the time he was making a statement at FCID Annex, Alagbon,
“when I demanded to know the exact allegation for which he was to
be arrested and detained, the Police said that it was on the basis
of a petition, which they cannot disclose to his counsel” .This has
caused a lot of apprehension among his family members, relatives,
political associates and well-wishers as to the aim of his
arrest.

However, according to credible sources, clear is that Professor
Maurice Fangnon has been leading the campaign against the
demolition of Otodo-Gbame, a waterfront community that was
demolished by the Lagos State Government despite a valid and
subsisting court order granted by Justice Onigbanjo of the High
Court of Lagos State against same.

Professor Maurice Fangnon also petitioned certain persons who
armed with guns and all sorts of dangerous weapon have been going
into the community to kill and maim residents of otodo gbame in
broad day light with the full and glaring support of the Nigeria
Police. It is these persons who have been exonerated by the police
after paying their way through that are fighting back by alleging
“false information” in Professor Fangnon’s petition.

A mass protest was held on Thursday, 20th July, 2017 in front of
Bookshop House,Marina, Lagos, where his Centre for Democracy and
Human Rights in Africa is domiciled to demand for his release.
Addressing the protest, Mr.Ayo Ademiluyi, his lawyer, stated that”
his arrest and detention is illegal and he should be released
unconditionally”

Police Officers attached with Force Criminal Investigation
Department, Abuja arrested a leading human rights activist in
Lagos, Professor Maurice Fangnon of Centre for Democracy and Human
Rights in Africa in the afternoon of Wednesday, 19th July, 2017 and
detained him first of all overnight at the FCID Annex, Alagbon
Close, Ikoyi, Lagos before moving him in the early hours of
Thursday, 20th July, 2017 to FCID Headquarters, Abuja. What is not
clear as at press time is the exact charge or allegation for which
he was arrested.

According to his lawyer, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi, who was in the
company of his son, Femi Dodo a legal practitioner, who was with
him at the time he was making a statement at FCID Annex, Alagbon,
“when I demanded to know the exact allegation for which he was to
be arrested and detained, the Police said that it was on the basis
of a petition, which they cannot disclose to his counsel” .This has
caused a lot of apprehension among his family members, relatives,
political associates and well-wishers as to the aim of his
arrest.

However, according to credible sources, clear is that Professor
Maurice Fangnon has been leading the campaign against the
demolition of Otodo-Gbame, a waterfront community that was
demolished by the Lagos State Government despite a valid and
subsisting court order granted by Justice Onigbanjo of the High
Court of Lagos State against same.

Professor Maurice Fangnon also petitioned certain persons who
armed with guns and all sorts of dangerous weapon have been going
into the community to kill and maim residents of otodo gbame in
broad day light with the full and glaring support of the Nigeria
Police. It is these persons who have been exonerated by the police
after paying their way through that are fighting back by alleging
“false information” in Professor Fangnon’s petition.

A mass protest was held on Thursday, 20th July, 2017 in front of
Bookshop House,Marina, Lagos, where his Centre for Democracy and
Human Rights in Africa is domiciled to demand for his release.
Addressing the protest, Mr.Ayo Ademiluyi, his lawyer, stated that”
his arrest and detention is illegal and he should be released
unconditionally”