Connect with us

News

CITAD Condemns Weaponization of Police by Politicians to Intimidate Bloggers, Activists

Published

5 months ago

on

CITAD

 

 

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) strongly condemns the arrest of Kwara-based blogger Ajala Adeshina Shuaib, popularly known as Manjala, over allegations of defamation. This deeply troubling development reflects a growing and dangerous pattern in Nigeria where politicians deploy security agencies to settle personal disputes and silence critical voices.

According to reports, Shuaib was arrested following a petition by Tunji Buhari Sulyman, a legislative aide to Senator Saliu Mustapha. CITAD views this as a blatant misuse of law enforcement powers and a direct assault on constitutionally protected freedom of expression.

Section 39 of the Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression. The continuous harassment, arrest, and detention of bloggers, journalists, and activists for merely expressing their views is a serious breach of our democratic values and an affront to the principles of open governance.

The Nigeria Police Force is not a private militia for politicians. Its constitutional mandate is to protect lives and property, not to intimidate citizens or pursue political vendettas. At a time when insecurity has become a daily reality, with bandits, kidnappers, insurgents, and violent groups terrorizing communities across the country, it is shocking that police officers are being deployed to arrest a blogger over a Facebook post. The police should be part of the architecture to secure Nigerians, rather than waste public resources on illegal efforts to protect politicians from being asked to account for their actions and deeds.

Advert

Arbitrary arrests such as this one discourage civic participation, silence independent journalism, and weaken public confidence in institutions meant to serve all citizens. Using the police to criminalize criticism or opinion sets a dangerous precedent and creates an environment where accountability becomes impossible.

CITAD is particularly concerned about the chilling effect this trend has on: journalists and media workers, digital rights advocates, youth and online content creators, and human rights defenders. Democracy cannot flourish where dissent is treated as a crime.

CITAD therefore calls on the Nigeria Police Force to:

1. Immediately end the misuse of the police for the personal or political interests of public officials.
2. Focus on its constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property and combating rising insecurity.
3. Release Ajala Shuaib unconditionally and refrain from further unlawful intimidation of citizens exercising their rights.
4. Should advise Mr. Tunji Buhari Sulyman that if he feels defamed, the courts are the right place for him to seek for redress and not seek for self-help through illegal use of the Police.

We further call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to:

1. Take decisive action to stop the growing abuse of state security agencies for personal and political scores.
2. Direct the Inspector General of Police to issue and enforce clear guidelines against the arrest of citizens over defamation or political disagreement, as well as the personalization of the police to shield politicians by stifling legislative criticism.
3. Protect Nigeria’s civic and digital spaces by ensuring that security agencies do not become tools of oppression.

CITAD stands firmly with journalists, digital creators, activists, and all Nigerians who speak truth to power, and will not allow intimidation to silence advocacy for a safer, freer, and more democratic Nigeria and for citizens to freely express their opinions using social media.

 

Related Topics:

News

Insecurity: US lawmaker accuses Matawalle of bribe attempt to silence recommendation calling for his sack

Published

5 hours ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

Governor Matawalle

 

Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s minister of state for defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report.

The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday.

She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him.

Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Advert

“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video.

Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria.

Matawalle is yet to officially reply the US lawmaker.

Daniels alleged that following her recent press statement on what she described as targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, she came under pressure from individuals she linked to the minister, including what she characterised as attempts to discredit her report and “buy support” from US-based elected officials.

According to her, an unnamed American lawmaker allegedly received an offer of financial inducement to publicly counter her position and defend the Nigerian defence leadership.

She claimed to have received evidence of a communication, including a prepared statement and promotional material, purportedly linked to the minister.

She also claimed that the bribery attempt is meant to divide America elected officials not knowing that they are united.

Continue Reading

News

Just In:President Tinubu Sacks Minister Of Finance

Published

10 hours ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the membership of the Federal Executive Council.

According to a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, two cabinet members, Mr. Wale Edun and Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa are to leave the cabinet while their replacements have been named.

Edun, until the latest development, was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy. He has been directed to hand over to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele who is now to take over as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Oyedele was formerly a Minister of State in the ministry.

Also Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma (PhD .) has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister designate for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.

Advert

The memo also directed Dangiwa to hand over to the Minister of State in the ministry.

The memo stated that “all handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before close of business on Thursday 23rd April, 2026.”

Explaining the President’s decision, Akume said: “These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

He said the President, in approving the cabinet reshuffle, has fully exercised his powers as conferred on him by Sections 147 and 148 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).

The President thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation while wishing them the best in all their future endeavours.

The President, Akume noted, equally assured all cabinet members that “the process of reinvigoration shall be continuous.”

Signed:

Yomi Odunuga,
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation

21-04-2026

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: FG Files 13 Count Charges Against Alleged Coup Plotters

Published

17 hours ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against individuals accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Among those named in the suit are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and three other suspects.

Advert

According to security sources, the coup was scheduled to be executed on Nigeria’s Independence Day. However, the plot was uncovered after preparations and plans were leaked, leading to its successful disruption.

The development prompted the Federal Government to cancel the Independence Day programme—a move described as highly unusual by political observers.

Continue Reading

Trending