A human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, has called for the immediate release or arraignment of Maryam Shehu, a Kano-based blogger who he said has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for over 30 days.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Hikima said Shehu was arrested in Kano and transferred to Abuja after allegedly raising corruption allegations against EFCC officials.
According to the lawyer, the blogger is “not accused of stealing, fraud, money laundering or any economic or financial crime.”
Hikima said raised four key concerns in his post, Maryam Shehu “is not facing allegations of theft, fraud, money laundering or any financial crime” even as he alleged that the EFCC has become the complainant, investigator and judge in a matter involving its own officials.
The lawyer added that Maryam Shehu has reportedly been denied bail and held for more than 30 days. “She was allegedly lured by an EFCC official with a business offer before being arrested in Kano and taken to Abuja,” he said.
“If Maryam committed any offence, charge her before a competent court. Otherwise, release her immediately and allow an independent investigation into the allegations against the EFCC officials,” Hikima wrote.
The lawyer said he and his team are working on court papers for the blogger, and called on human rights organisations to intervene urgently.
“Investigation is not punishment. Release Maryam Shehu or charge her to court,” he added, using the hashtag #FreeMaryamShehu.
As of press time, the EFCC had not issued an official response to the allegations.
