Nigéria: détention arbitraire du défenseur des droits humains Ibrahim Magu et harcèlement de Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following the arbitrary detention of human rights defender Ibrahim Magu and the harassment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Ibrahim Magu is a former official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is the former Chairperson of the Commission, a government agency which investigates and prosecutes cases of corruption in Nigeria.

On 5 August 2008, Ibrahim Magu was arrested in connection with documents in his possession which it is believed may be related to the EFCC's investigations into corruption at various levels of government. Ibrahim Magu remains in detention and no charges are known to have been brought against him.

Also on 5 August, the demotion of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu from Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police was announced by the Police Service Commission. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had been sent to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies on a mandatory training course when it was announced that he had been replaced as Assistant Inspector-General. He was a Deputy Commissioner of Police when he became EFCC chairperson in 2003 and had been promoted to Assistant Inspector-General in 2007. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu believes he may face arrest upon his return from the training course as a result of investigations into government corruption.

I believe that the arrest and continued detention of Ibrahim Magu and the demotion of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu are directly related to their activities in defence of human rights, particularly through their work in the investigation into government corruption. I express my concern for the physical and psychological integrity of both men.

I urge the authorities in Nigeria to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Ibrahim Magu, as it is believed that no criminal charges have been brought against him and that he has been arrested and detained solely on the basis of his legitimate and peaceful activities in the defence of human rights;

2. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the demotion of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the arrest and detention of Ibrahim Magu, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice;

3. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of both Ibrahim Magu and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and organisations in Nigeria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw attention to Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters”, to Article 11: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession...”, and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present declaration.”

Yours sincerely,