Amnesty International Nigeria has described the continuous detention of a widower, Benard Ogbu, without trial since 2019 as illegal and unconstitutional.

The AI Nigeria’s Country Director, Osai Ojigho, in a statement after PUNCH Metro investigation had revealed that the policeman, ASP Felix Onoja, whom Bernard’s family accused of leading policemen to his residence in Nasarawa State to arrest Bernard, could not confirm if he was alive or dead, demanded his immediate trial.

However, as the police authorities were yet to come out with a position on Bernard’s whereabouts, Ojigho said the widower’s continued detention violated the provisions of the Nigerian constitution as well as international laws on human rights.

The statement read in part, “Amnesty International Nigeria notes that detention without charge or trial is contrary to article 35 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which guarantees the right to be brought before a court of law within 24 or 48 hours. It also breaches Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“The arbitrary detention of Bernard Ogbu since 2019, and his family not allowed to see him, is a flagrant abuse of the Nigerian constitution, and breach of Nigeria’s obligation under international law which it has subscribed to.

“It is imperative that Nigerian authorities, as a matter of urgency, bring Bernard Ogbu before a court of law and charged with a recognisable criminal offence (without recourse to the death penalty), or immediately released; and that he is given immediate access to his family and lawyers.”