HUMAN rights activist and lawyer,Comrade Femi Aborisade, has condemned Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) for its continued detention of Comrade Andrew Emelieze, labour rights activist and coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF).
In a statement, Comrade Aborisade, while calling for the immediate release of Emelieze, challenged the DSS to charge him to court if he has committed any offence known to law.
“I call on the SSS to release my client, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. If he has committed any offence known to law, he should be charged to court,” Aborisade stated.
Comrade Emelieze has been detained for the second time in four days by the DSS) in Ibadan, Oyo State. His arrest has sparked concerns over the harassment of activists advocating for workers’ welfare in Nigeria.
Details of the Arrest
Emelieze was first arrested on June 30, 2025, and released on bail the following day after his legal team, led by Yusuff Akinola Esq, from Abope Chambers, intervened.
According to a detailed report by Akinola, no formal charges were presented during his initial detention, and his interrogation reportedly focused solely on the activities of the FWF.
Akinola also noted that on July 3, 2025, Emelieze was again invited by the SSS under the pretext of completing bail documentation. However, upon arrival, he was asked to wait indefinitely for a “senior officer” who never appeared. Despite being on bail, Emelieze was effectively detained without explanation.
Akinola, who accompanied Emelieze, described the ordeal as a deliberate tactic to harass and intimidate the activist. He further reported that SSS officials failed to provide any valid reason for Emelieze’s detention, nor did they present any evidence of wrongdoing.
The lawyer emphasised that if the SSS has credible allegations against Emelieze, he should be formally charged in court rather than subjected to arbitrary detention.
The Federal Workers Forum, led by Emelieze, has been vocal in demanding better working conditions and welfare for federal employees.
The group had planned a protest in Abuja on July 1, 2025, which may have prompted the SSS’s scrutiny. However, no evidence has been presented linking Emelieze to illegal activities.
Human rights organisations and labour groups have raised alarms over the repeated detention of activists without due process.
The SSS’s failure to disclose charges or follow legal procedures has drawn criticism, with calls for transparency and respect for the rule of law.
As of the time of this report, Comrade Andrew Emelieze remains in SSS custody. His legal team has vowed to pursue all available avenues to secure his release and challenge what they describe as an abuse of power.
