TRACKING> Nigerian, Anthony Okolie, has been illegally detained by the Department of State Services for 10 weeks for purchasing and using an MTN SIM card previously used and abandoned by President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan.
The telephone number was said to have been recycled and put up for sale by the popular telecommunications network provider.
Okolie still has receipt he was given for the purchase of the SIM in question.
Making the revelation in a post on Twitter on Monday, rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, who was himself detained unlawfully by the DSS for months for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets and demand a better country from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, described the situation as sad.
He said, “A Nigerian, Anthony Okolie, was detained for 10 weeks by the DSS for using an MTN phone line previously used and abandoned by President Buhari’s daughter, Hanan.”
Recounting his meeting with Okolie at the DSS cell they shared together, Sowore’s co-defendant in the case brought against them by the Nigerian Government, Olawale Bakare widely known as Mandate, in a post on Twitter said, “Only if Nigerians know the level of lawlessness perpetuated by the DSS in the name of ‘order from above’, we will understand the danger of having a tyrant who has no iota of respect for human rights or dignity.
“The level of arrogance and confidence of the DSS to unlawfully detain innocent Nigerians is disgustingly obvious in their manner of operation and approach.
“Anthony Okolie who happened to be my cellmate at the DSS facility even got lucky to have spent only 10 weeks for committing no offence according to a Senior Intelligence Officer.
“Till now, no one, including Anthony, knows his offence.
“He was only released after being told that “You’re now forgiven”.
“I can also recall a man who spent four years for only receiving a phone call from a suspected Boko Haram terrorist.
“His property was sold by his siblings while his wife went ahead to remarry with their two children thinking that he was dead.
“The most annoying part is in their hypocrisy, when they try to hide under the law to peddle or legitimise their tyranny and injustice.
“The abrogation of your freedom, security and safety is a step away from ‘order from above.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters over the bizarre incident, human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, said the situation was truly disturbing.
