*Calls For The Immediate And Unconditional Release Of Mr.
Tanko-Yankassai From Illegal Custody.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) led by a
human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the
arrest of Tanko-Yankassai, the former aide to Governor of Kano
State, Umar Ganduje, for calling for the resignation of President
Buhari over insecurity.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
In a statement made available to Nairalaw, Falana said
ASCAB has confirmed that Yankassai is been detained incommunicado
by the State Security Service at an undisclosed detention
facility
He said, “On Friday, February 27, 2021, Mr. Salisu
Tanko-Yankassai, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje of Kano state called on President Mohammadu Buhari to
either guarantee the security of the Nigerian people or resign from
office. Even though Mr. Tanko-Yankassai was legitimately exercising
his freedom of expression enshrined in section 39 of the
Constitution he was sacked by Governor Ganduje and arrested by the
State Security Service. ASCAB has confirmed that Mr. Tanko-
Yankassai is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention
facility.
“Having regard to the fact that civil rights advocates, retired
military officers and political party leaders including chieftains
of the All Progressive Congress have repeatedly asked President
Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the
country there is no justification whatsoever for the arrest and
detention of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai.
In both chambers of the national assembly, there have been
strident calls by legislators for President Buhari’s resignation or
impeachment on the ground that criminal gangs have taken over the
monopoly of violence in the country. Since such concerned citizens
were never arrested the ongoing harassment of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai
is high-handed, discriminatory, and illegal.”
Falana, as a reminder, said Buhari, Tinubu, and other leaders of
APC have all once called for the resignation of former President
Goodluck Jonathan while he was in office between 2013 and 2014 yet
they were not intimidated.
He drew the attention of the SSS to the case of Nwankwo v the
State where the Court of Appeal tasked those in public office not
to be intolerant to criticism
“It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General
Mohammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu; Malam Nasir
El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former
President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014.
Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for
exercising their freedom of expression at the material time. Since
the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue
to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the
virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial
State it is pertinent to draw the attention of the State Security
Service to the case of Arthur Nwankwo v The State 1985 6 NCLR 228
where the Court of Appeal charged the Nigerian people to engage in
relentless criticism of democratically elected governments. In
particular, Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed
memory) had this to say:
‘The decision of the founding fathers of the present
Constitution which guarantees freedom of
speech which must include freedom to criticise should be praised
and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the
constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be
intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure
that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to
feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a
different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible,
plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.’
“he said
Falana, therefore, called for the release of Yankassai. He added
however that should there be evidence of any crime allegedly
committed by Yankassai, they should transfer him the the police for
possible prosecution
“In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and
unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankassai from illegal custody.
However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the
political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law
he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and
possible prosecution without any delay.” he said
*Calls For The Immediate And Unconditional Release Of Mr.
Tanko-Yankassai From Illegal Custody.
The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) led by a
human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the
arrest of Tanko-Yankassai, the former aide to Governor of Kano
State, Umar Ganduje, for calling for the resignation of President
Buhari over insecurity.
In a statement made available to Nairalaw, Falana said
ASCAB has confirmed that Yankassai is been detained incommunicado
by the State Security Service at an undisclosed detention
facility
He said, “On Friday, February 27, 2021, Mr. Salisu
Tanko-Yankassai, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje of Kano state called on President Mohammadu Buhari to
either guarantee the security of the Nigerian people or resign from
office. Even though Mr. Tanko-Yankassai was legitimately exercising
his freedom of expression enshrined in section 39 of the
Constitution he was sacked by Governor Ganduje and arrested by the
State Security Service. ASCAB has confirmed that Mr. Tanko-
Yankassai is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention
facility.
“Having regard to the fact that civil rights advocates, retired
military officers and political party leaders including chieftains
of the All Progressive Congress have repeatedly asked President
Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the
country there is no justification whatsoever for the arrest and
detention of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai.
In both chambers of the national assembly, there have been
strident calls by legislators for President Buhari’s resignation or
impeachment on the ground that criminal gangs have taken over the
monopoly of violence in the country. Since such concerned citizens
were never arrested the ongoing harassment of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai
is high-handed, discriminatory, and illegal.”
Falana, as a reminder, said Buhari, Tinubu, and other leaders of
APC have all once called for the resignation of former President
Goodluck Jonathan while he was in office between 2013 and 2014 yet
they were not intimidated.
He drew the attention of the SSS to the case of Nwankwo v the
State where the Court of Appeal tasked those in public office not
to be intolerant to criticism
“It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General
Mohammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu; Malam Nasir
El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former
President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014.
Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for
exercising their freedom of expression at the material time. Since
the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue
to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the
virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial
State it is pertinent to draw the attention of the State Security
Service to the case of Arthur Nwankwo v The State 1985 6 NCLR 228
where the Court of Appeal charged the Nigerian people to engage in
relentless criticism of democratically elected governments. In
particular, Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed
memory) had this to say:
‘The decision of the founding fathers of the present
Constitution which guarantees freedom of
speech which must include freedom to criticise should be praised
and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the
constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be
intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure
that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to
feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a
different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible,
plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.’
“he said
Falana, therefore, called for the release of Yankassai. He added
however that should there be evidence of any crime allegedly
committed by Yankassai, they should transfer him the the police for
possible prosecution
“In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and
unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankassai from illegal custody.
However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the
political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law
he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and
possible prosecution without any delay.” he said