18th March, 2016.
Press release
The attention of citizens watch Nigeria (CWN) and transpareNCY movement (TM) two pro-human rights groups has been drawn to the continuous incarceration and persecution of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh who is still languishing in Kuje Prison and who has over stayed in detention for his inability to meet the outrageous and callous bail conditions placed on him by the Law Enforcement Authorities.
Having critically examined the gross abuses and violations of the rights of crimes suspects and the political undertone in the current anti-graft war, CWN and TM condemn the prolonged stay of Badeh behind bars as follows:
- The two billion naira condition placed on each of the two sureties to sign Badeh’s bail documents is outrageously high, prohibitive, scaring, shocking and impossible to meet because it is difficult if not impossible to find Nigerians with such money in our current woeful economy. It is perceived in many quarters that no Nigerian can come forward and sign such bail condition because it is a trap to arrest and persecute law abiding citizens on the source of the N2billion placed as bail condition.
- CWN and TM berate the bail conditions for Badeh’s release as callous, inhuman, outrageous and impossible to meet which suggest conspiracy by the authorities not to set Badeh free. The so called bail granted to Badeh is pretentious and deceptive because you cannot grant an accused person bail and at the same time make the bail ineffective. The authorities do not want the opprobrium that greeted Sambo Dasuki’s illegal detention to be replicated in Badeh’s case which is why they are applying hide and seek game on Badeh’s matter.
- CWN and TM call on the relevant judicial authorities to vary the bail conditions imposed for Badeh’s release to be more humane, attainable, realizable and possible so that Badeh can go home from prison incarceration because the alleged offences are bailable and an accused person deserves some measures of respect and human dignity in line with the provisions of our constitution, African Charter and UN charter on Human rights.
- CWN and TM condemn the humiliation, harassment, intimidation and in human treatment meted out on Badeh and his immediate family members by oppressive anti-graft regime in the face of dubious, suspicious, if not baseless and unsubstantiated allegations of financial wrong doing. Having critically examined Badeh’s matter, CWN and TM are of the opinion that Badeh was framed up and a victim of cross – fire politiking.
- It is disheartening, appalling, humiliating, unfortunate and unbelievable that a Defence Icon Badeh who served this nation meritoriously and with all his heart, bringing honour and glory to the military and his fatherland could be so humiliated, disgraced and oppressed for his gallantry and service to the country. Badeh deserves to be given fair hearing, self-recognition status for having reformed and repositioned Nigerian Airforce and his unprecedented achievements in the last decade.
Signed:
Omoba Kenneth Agbegbele Faruok Umar
President (CWN) Executive Secretary (TM)