The Federal Government has been urged, as a matter of urgency, to direct the immediate and unconditional release of one Mrs Rhoda Jatau from detention.
The call was made by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), during a press conference on the digital rights implications of her continued detention by the Bauchi State Government over her social media post.
While addressing journalists at the CITAD office in Bauchi on Friday, December 8, 2023, Yunusa Ya’u stated that Rhoda Jatau was arrested by security operatives in her house in Katanga Warji, Bauchi State, for sharing a WhatsApp message to her friends condemning the killing of a student in Sokoto for alleged blasphemy.
He stated that, “You may all recall that on May 20, 2022, Mrs Jatau was picked up at her residence by the NPF on the allegations of alleged incitement and inciting public disturbance. The police action was based on their perception of what her message could do.”
According to him, this action has directly infringed on her rights to freedom of expression and speech as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Her post, while perhaps strong in its language, did not incite violence or hatred.”
He added that “it was simply an expression of her opinion, a right guaranteed to her by our Constitution. It is an outright abuse of her digital right to freedom of expression online.”
“However, immediately after sharing the post, she was arrested and taken into custody. Her bail was consistently denied, and she has been held behind bars ever since. This is not just an injustice to Rhoda; it is an attack on the digital rights of every citizen in this country,” CITAD stressed.
CITAD stressed that “denying someone bail based on a social media post sets a dangerous precedent for our collective freedom and democracy. It sends a bad signal that the government can silence any dissenting voice if they deem it contrary to their own opinion.”
It added that, “And if this trend continues, it will make people afraid to speak their minds, express themselves, and associate online for fear of being attacked, arrested, or molested by the Nigerian government or its agencies, as in the case of Rhoda’s and many others.”
To reinforce its stance, CITAD declared that “it is crucial to remember that Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression.”
“Additionally, the Government of Nigeria is a signatory to various international human rights law instruments and treaties, including the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which all hold the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Nigeria,” Yunusa Ya’u stressed.
CITAD then reiterated that Rhoda’s arrest and continued detention are violations of her digital rights, and we cannot stand and do nothing while injustice is meted out to one of us.”
“As an organisation working on the protection of human and digital rights of Nigerians, we strongly condemn the unnecessary adjournments and postponements of Mrs Rhoda’s case hearing, which has been delayed five times since March 2023,” it stated.
CITAD added, We further denounce the rejection of her application for a “no-case submission” by her lawyers despite having no criminal history.
Keeping her in addition to commending extrajudicial murder is asking to detain all the people condemning the atrocious matter. ”
It therefore demanded her immediate release, the dropping of all charges against her, and respect for the fundamental right of every citizen to express themselves freely and openly in the digital space.
Furthermore, we call upon the Federal government to immediately intervene and ensure the release of Mrs. Jatau without further delay, and the Bauchi State Government to order the Attorney General in the state to facilitate the release of Mrs Jatau unconditionally.”
“The Nigeria Police Force should desist from arresting citizens for exercising their constitutional rights online. We call on the media organisations nationwide to amplify the voices of Mrs Jatau and others who face similar injustices at the hands of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies,” it added.
CITAD also called on human rights organisations, civil society organisations, and lawyers to unite in assisting victims of digital rights abuses and safeguarding the digital rights of Nigerians.
The Nigerian National Assembly was also called to speed up the passage of the digital rights and freedom bill, which CITAD believes will address most of this injustice perpetrated against citizens under the guise of national security.
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