Lagos ACN Chieftain Detained
LAGOS, March 31, (THEWILL) - A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State, Chief Taorid Faronbi (Alado) has been arrested and detained by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) attached to the Lagos office of the security agency.
THEWILL gathered that he was detained about 72 hours ago without being charged with any offence.
Faronbi’s arrest was announced in a statement, which National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande read at a news conference organised to address the increasing intimidation of the party members by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafiz Ringim.
The ACN has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led federal government of complicity in his arrest, saying the party is making good its threats to arrest and detain ACN members and leaders with a view to intimidating the party during the 2011 elections.
The statement said, “Chief Faronbi is a victim of unlawful, forceful abduction, illegal and wrongful detention. We call on the people of Nigeria, European Union Election monitoring team in Nigeria and the international community to take note of the ruling party’s do-or-die tactics and game plan in ensuring that by all illegal, unlawful, violent and wrongful means, the PDP succeeds in the 2011 general elections.”
It added that, “the PDP government is bent on forestalling peaceful, free and fair elections. The people of Lagos State demand immediate release of Chief Taorid Faronbi in accordance with the 1999 Constitution."
According to the CAN, “15 armed hefty security agents, who introduced themselves as members of the State Security Services attached to Lagos office in Shangisha besieged the residence of Chief Taorid Faronbi and forcibly abducted him in the early hours of March 29.
“Chief Faronbi was forcefully arrested without being afforded reasons for his arrest when he enquired and driven away in a coaster bus at about 8:10 a.m. He was taken to the SSS office at Shangisha, arriving there at 8:30 a.m. on the same day.
“From that moment, Chief Faronbi’s family members including his wife made all efforts to see him in detention, and also made various enquiries as to the reason for his arrest and detention. To date, family members have been denied total access to see their family head; neither have they been given any explanation.
“Till date, the security agents have given any reason for arresting Chief Faronbi apart from citing orders from the Presidency in Abuja. As at this moment, Chief Faronbi has been detained for well over 48 hours without being charged with any offence in gross violation of his constitutional rights to fair hearing,” the statement said.