Renowned human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has strongly condemned the arrest of controversial crossdresser Okuneye Idris, also known as Bobrisky, by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Immigration Service intercepted Bobrisky at the Sème border on Monday while he was attempting to leave the country.
The Eagle Online had reported that the spokesperson for the NIS, Kenneth Udo, in a statement on Monday evening, described Okuneye as a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.
Udo added,“In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.
“He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action. The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”
Reacting to the development in a post via his Facebook page, Ogun stated that denying a Nigerian citizen the right to leave the country without a legal basis is entirely wrongful.
He noted that there are no charges against Bobrisky and that he has the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
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The statement read: “The Nigerian Immigration Service’s recent arrest of Bobrisky while he was traveling out of Nigeria on the grounds that ‘he is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern’ is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional.
“Denying a Nigerian citizen the right to leave his country without a legal basis is entirely wrongful. There are no charges currently pending against Bobrisky.
“What exactly is the alleged offence that would warrant his arrest and continuous harassment? What is the legal justification for denying him the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution?
“I am afraid there is no legal justification for this recent arrest and refusal to allow him to exit Nigeria. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) must desist from undermining citizens’ fundamental rights on grounds that are not rooted in law.
“If the NIS is allowed to get away with this, the Nigerian state may not hesitate to restrict the freedom of its citizens—particularly journalists, activists, and vocal patriots—on the basis that they are ‘persons of interest.’
“We must avert this perilous precedent. Lest we all become at risk. May the shovel we call a spoon today not be used to dig our graves.”
It was revealed that the crossdresser spent Monday night at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) annex in Alagbon, Lagos
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