Why Asari Dokubo was arrested – Keyamo

News broke yesterday of the arrest of former militant and Niger Delta activist, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari. ‘Asari Dokubo’, as he is popularly called, was arrested yesterday by police officers at Lubeleyi roundabout in Cotonou, Benin Republic. 

It is believed that the former militant’s arrest and detention is politically motivated and is designed to keep him out of political affairs in Nigeria due to the rapidly approaching 2015 elections. 

His lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said as much in his statement announcing his client’s arrest. Premium Times reports : “ Mr Keyamo said: We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now. 

In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country,” a statement by Mr. Keyamo read. Mr. Keyamo also stated that Mr. Dokubo-Asari’s detention is politically motivated and a bid by unidentified individual working with the Beninoise authorities to “keep him away as 2015 approaches.” Mr. Dokubo-Asari is a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan and has promised to make the country ungovernable if the president is not re-elected in the 2015 presidential election. 

Mr. Keyamo pleaded with the Nigerian government “to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria.” Mr. Dokubo-Asari recently adopted Benin Republic citizenship