The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to either release President-General Legborsi Yamaabana from its custody or arraign him immediately. The appeal was made by the group’s Vice President, Bonabo Saviour, during a news briefing on Wednesday.
Yamaabana has been detained by the DSS since April 11 on what OYF describes as “false allegations” and remains uncharged. “The DSS has repeatedly obtained remand orders that have expired without arraigning Yamaabana,” Saviour said. He added that “multiple and overlapping remand orders” violate both the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Saviour criticized the DSS’s pattern of obtaining successive remand orders as an abuse of process. “The DSS’s actions are unlawful and contrary to the constitutional right to personal liberty, fair hearing, and human dignity,” he said. “We are calling on the DSS to immediately release Yamaabana or charge him to court, and allow him access to medication, his legal team, and family while investigations continue.”
The OYF also appealed to civil society organizations, legal professionals, and the media to join the call against arbitrary detention and abuse of power. “We seek support from lovers of justice to raise their voices against arbitrary detention,” Saviour added.
In support of the call, Raymond Nwibani, President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NAICOP), emphasized Yamaabana’s right to a fair trial. “People should not be detained unlawfully, and we are not saying he should be released because he is above the law. We are saying that as an accused, he should be given fair hearing to speak or address the situation,” Nwibani said. He urged leaders at the state and federal levels to “consider the plea of Ogoni youths and ensure that justice is served.”
Legal practitioner and NAICOP member Faith Kpabep stressed the importance of due process. “No one is above the law, but the DSS must conduct a diligent investigation and prosecute professionally,” Kpabep said.
He noted that Yamaabana’s detention has lasted six weeks, with three remand orders expiring without arraignment. “How many more weeks of remand are needed for investigation? We are concerned about due process of our rule of law. We seek a fair trial and proper prosecution,” Kpabep added.
OYF plans to escalate the matter by writing to the President, the Inspector General of Police, and other security agencies if Yamaabana’s situation is not promptly addressed.