PRESS RELEASE

October 25, 2008

RELEASE JONATHAN ELENDU

Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) is immensely shocked by the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Jonathan Elendu, publisher of elendureports, a widely read online news agency, by the State Security Services (SSS) over trump-up charges of sedition.

advertisement

HRJPF has no doubt that Elendu¢s ¡sin¢ is not only his proprietorship of an online news agency but also his perceived relationship with the publishers of saharareporters and pointblanknews whose publications have been sources of anxieties, frustrations and disappointments to the cabal that is keeping Nigerians hostage.

It is saddening that the Yar¢adua-led administration, which professes respect for rule of law, would turn around to use security agents to subjugate perceived friends of the open society like Elendu. This singular act does not only doubt the democratic credentials of President Yar¢adua but also confirms his determination to, like his predecessor; elevate continually arbitrariness above the law, in flagrant disregard for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Simply put, Elendu¢s unlawful arrest portrays Yar¢adua as a despotic ruler.

HRJPF therefore condemns Elendu¢s arrest, demands his immediate and unconditional release by the SSS and an unreserved apology to him by the Federal Government. HRJPF also calls on the Federal Government to order security agents in the country, including the SSS to halt their planned arrest of the publishers of saharareporters and pointblanknews.

Comrade Chidi Nwosu

President

Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation

Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

E-mail: hrjpfoundation@yahoo.com

www.hrjpf.org

Tel: 234 803 505 6312