Over a week after the anti-kidnapping protest in Ekpoma, Edo State, turned violent and led to multiple arrests, a civil rights group has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Collins Aigbogun, a former Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo, from police custody.
The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights said Aigbogun’s continued detention is unconstitutional and raises concerns about political persecution. Aigbogun was reportedly arrested by the police as one of the alleged masterminds of the protest. He was subsequently relieved of his appointment and replaced by the governor last week but has remained in detention.
In a statement jointly signed by the Coordinator General, Marxist Edokpayi, and the Secretary General, Aghatise Raphael, the coalition cautioned the Nigeria Police Force against arresting and detaining citizens without due regard to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The group referenced claims by Governor Okpebholo that the protest was sponsored by a Russia-based individual, questioning why Aigbogun remains in custody without clear evidence linking him to the demonstration.
Citing Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the coalition noted that no person should be convicted of an offence unless such offence is clearly defined and prescribed by law. It argued that the police have, so far, failed to furnish credible evidence connecting Aigbogun to the protest.
“The continued detention of Mr. Aigbogun, based solely on alleged sponsorship of a protest, is not only contrary to constitutional safeguards but also risks creating the impression of political persecution,” the statement said, warning that such actions could erode public confidence in law enforcement and democratic governance.
The coalition further expressed concern that while criminal networks continue to operate with relative impunity, citizens exercising their constitutional rights are subjected to arrest and intimidation.
“This raises a critical question,” the statement added. “Should security agencies focus on suppressing lawful civic engagement, or on dismantling the criminal structures that threaten innocent lives?”
Appealing directly to Governor Okpebholo, the group urged him to order Aigbogun’s immediate release in the interest of justice and equity, invoking the legal principle that it is better for guilty persons to go free than for one innocent person to suffer unjustly.
The coalition concluded by calling on the Nigerian Police Force to operate strictly within constitutional limits and align with the public in addressing insecurity, rather than penalising individuals without due process.
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