The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji
Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was today arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
A
statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said Dokubo was picked up by
the police between 1:00pm and 2:00pm around the Lubeleyi roundabout, and
taken to an unknown destination.
The wealthy former militant
reportedly opened a private university in the Benin Republic, the King
Amachree African University that is preparing to start degree-awarding
programmes in 2014.
“We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari
carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin
Republic for many years now,” Keyamo said in his statement. “In fact,
he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places
have been searched as at this evening and nothing incriminating was
found.”
He suggested that Dokubo’s arrest and detention may be a
ploy by “certain forces in Nigeria in unholy alliance with the Beninoise
government” to keep his client away as 2015 approaches.
“We call
on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no
harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to
secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria,” he said.
Dokubo has in recent times vowed that unless Mr. President Jonathan retains the presidency in 2015, Nigeria would break up.
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