Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate release of Cameroonian freedom fighters detained. He also warned of the release of freedom fighters to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, warning that "since the federal government has failed to completely defeat the dreaded Boko Haram sect, it should not declare war on South Cameroon, displaced from Bakassi to retaliatory attacks ". The Movement for the Independence of Southern Cameroonians calls for an independent state of Ambazonia, which seeks to break with the domination of French-speaking Cameroon. Seven of its leaders were arrested Friday by the State Department of Services (DSS) in Abuja. They are Sisiku Tabe, Nfor Ngala Nfor, Fidelis Che, Henri Kimeng, Cornielius Kwanga, a teacher identified as Awasum and a lawyer, Nalowa Bih. Reacting, Falana argued that the Attorney General of the Federation also lacked the power to initiate extradition proceedings under the Extradition Act (E25) of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria of 2004 for extradition of Cameroonian freedom fighters detained.
He insisted that the detainees were entitled to reside or visit Nigeria without any molestation
“To that extent, the federal government has no power whatsoever to hand them over to President Paul Biya. The detained Cameroonian freedom fighters deserve to be released unconditionally from the unlawful custody forthwith.
“Instead of using the SSS to fight the proxy war of President Paul Biya the federal government should direct the SSS and other security forces to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force to fish out the criminal elements that have unleashed mayhem on the people of Benue State”, he said.
Falana argued that since the Cameroonians entered Nigeria legitimately their arrest and detention by the federal government cannot be justified under the law.
“As Africans the detainees are entitled to the human rights to personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of expression guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
“Furthermore, their unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination is protected by Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which has been ratified by both Nigeria and Cameroon.
“Having failed to crush the ideas which recently led to the demand for the State of Biafra by the members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the federal government should not attempt to provoke the marginalized people of Southern Cameroon by frustrating their legitimate demand for an independent state of Ambazonia,” he added.#Africa ... spill TEA.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie