Why Buhari must release detained Cameroonian freedom fighters – Falana SAN

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked President Muhammadu
Buhari to order the immediate release of the detained Cameroonian
freedom fighters.

He also cautioned the federal government against releasing the
freedom fighters to Cameroonian President, Paul Biya.

He said in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday that this was
because Nigeria has no extradition treaty with Cameroon.

A team of armed officials of the State Security Service (SSS)
had on Saturday, invaded Nera Hotel in Abuja and arrested seven
leaders of the Southern region of Cameroon agitating for the
independent state of Ambazonia.

The arrested freedom fighters are: Mr. Sikiku Tabe, the leader
of the group. Others are Professor Che Awasum, Mr. Nalowa Bih, a
lawyer as well as Dr. Fidelis Che, Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, Dr. Henri
Kumeng and Dr. Cornelius Kwanga. They have since been held
incommunicado at an undisclosed place by the SSS.

The detainees have been denied access to their lawyers, doctors
and family members contrary to the provisions of the United Nations
Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Reacting to the development, Falana contended that the
Attorney-General of the Federation also lacks the vires to initiate
extradition proceedings under the Extradition Act (E25) Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004 for the extradition of the detained
Cameroonian freedom fighters.

Although the federal government is under pressure from President
Biya to hand over the detainees to the security forces in Cameroon,
the learned silk pointed out that the detainees are entitled to
reside or visit Nigeria without any molestation .

“To that extent, the federal government has no power whatsoever
to hand them over to President Paul Biya. The detained Cameroonian
freedom fighters deserve to be released unconditionally from the
unlawful custody forthwith. “Instead of using the SSS to fight the
proxy war of President Paul Biya the federal government should
direct the SSS and other security forces to collaborate with the
Nigeria Police Force to fish out the criminal elements that have
unleashed mayhem on the people of Benue State”, he said.

Falana argued that since the Cameroonians entered Nigeria
legitimately their arrest and detention by the federal government
cannot be justified under the law.

“As Africans the detainees are entitled to the human rights to
personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of expression
guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. Furthermore, their
unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination is
protected by Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights which has been ratified by both Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Having failed to crush the ideas which recently led to the
demand for the State of Biafra by the members of the Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra the (IPOB), the federal government should not
attempt to provoke the marginalized people of Southern Cameroon by
frustrating their legitimate demand for an independent state of
Ambazonia.

“Since the federal government has not succeeded in completely
defeating the dreaded Boko Haram sect it should not declare war on
the people of Southern Cameroon and thereby further expose the
displaced people of Bakassi to reprisal attacks”, he advised.

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked President Muhammadu
Buhari to order the immediate release of the detained Cameroonian
freedom fighters.

He also cautioned the federal government against releasing the
freedom fighters to Cameroonian President, Paul Biya.

He said in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday that this was
because Nigeria has no extradition treaty with Cameroon.

A team of armed officials of the State Security Service (SSS)
had on Saturday, invaded Nera Hotel in Abuja and arrested seven
leaders of the Southern region of Cameroon agitating for the
independent state of Ambazonia.

The arrested freedom fighters are: Mr. Sikiku Tabe, the leader
of the group. Others are Professor Che Awasum, Mr. Nalowa Bih, a
lawyer as well as Dr. Fidelis Che, Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, Dr. Henri
Kumeng and Dr. Cornelius Kwanga. They have since been held
incommunicado at an undisclosed place by the SSS.

The detainees have been denied access to their lawyers, doctors
and family members contrary to the provisions of the United Nations
Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Reacting to the development, Falana contended that the
Attorney-General of the Federation also lacks the vires to initiate
extradition proceedings under the Extradition Act (E25) Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004 for the extradition of the detained
Cameroonian freedom fighters.

Although the federal government is under pressure from President
Biya to hand over the detainees to the security forces in Cameroon,
the learned silk pointed out that the detainees are entitled to
reside or visit Nigeria without any molestation .

“To that extent, the federal government has no power whatsoever
to hand them over to President Paul Biya. The detained Cameroonian
freedom fighters deserve to be released unconditionally from the
unlawful custody forthwith. “Instead of using the SSS to fight the
proxy war of President Paul Biya the federal government should
direct the SSS and other security forces to collaborate with the
Nigeria Police Force to fish out the criminal elements that have
unleashed mayhem on the people of Benue State”, he said.

Falana argued that since the Cameroonians entered Nigeria
legitimately their arrest and detention by the federal government
cannot be justified under the law.

“As Africans the detainees are entitled to the human rights to
personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of expression
guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. Furthermore, their
unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination is
protected by Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights which has been ratified by both Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Having failed to crush the ideas which recently led to the
demand for the State of Biafra by the members of the Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra the (IPOB), the federal government should not
attempt to provoke the marginalized people of Southern Cameroon by
frustrating their legitimate demand for an independent state of
Ambazonia.

“Since the federal government has not succeeded in completely
defeating the dreaded Boko Haram sect it should not declare war on
the people of Southern Cameroon and thereby further expose the
displaced people of Bakassi to reprisal attacks”, he advised.