Nigerian warlord denied bail
2005-11-11 12:48
Abuja - A Nigerian high court denied bail to Niger Delta separatist leader Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari on Friday, citing security fears.
Asari, the leader of the outlawed Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), was standing trial for treasonable felony after he threatened to renew his armed rebellion against Nigerian rule.
Asari said: "Is this justice? There is no evidence against me! Yes, the judge will go out of his way to deny me freedom.
"Is this democracy? Is this the rule of law? Is this freedom of the judiciary when a judge will connive with government to deny me freedom even when there is no evidence against me?"
But, Judge Peter Olayiwola said that the main charge against Asari - "treasonable felony" - was a serious one and the defence had not given sufficient assurances that he would not re-offend.
Defence to appeal the ruling
Olayiwola ruled: "The security fears expressed by the prosecution have not been assuaged by the applicant. In the circumstances, the court will refuse bail in this matter."
Asari's defence counsel, Festus Keyamo, said that the defence would appeal the ruling. Asari's trial is due to start on January 10 next year. He has been remanded in prison custody.
Last year, Asari led a brief armed rebellion in which several hundred fighters from his Ijaw ethnic group clashed with the government forces and threatened to attack foreign-owned oil wells.
The threat helped push international oil prices to record highs and President Olusegun Obasanjo was forced to broker a ceasefire deal and an amnesty for Asari and his men.
Since then, the NDPVF claimed to have handed in its weapons, but Asari had continued to campaign for Ijaw independence and was arrested in September after threatening a return to armed struggle.