Family cries out over arrest, detention journalist Amieyeofori by DSS

Published

9 months ago

July 16, 2025

The family of journalist and former African Independent Television, AIT, staff, Tekena Amieyeofori, has cried out following his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services, DSS, since March 10, 2025.

His reportedly abduction, as the family described it, happened in Abuja over his role in exposing alleged corruption within the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

Amieyeofori, also serving as the National Secretary of the Niger Delta Youth Synergy & Co., was arrested alongside Comrade Goodluck Braide, the group’s President, after they submitted a petition addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.

The petition, which Amieyeofori co-signed, alleged wide-ranging infractions, including egregious corruption, poor implementation of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Policy, and the incompetent regulation of the upstream petroleum sector.

The group, in the letter, had condemned the activities of the commission, which amounted to an “infraction of the statutory mandate of the commission under Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.”

Since their arrest, Amieyeofori has reportedly been denied access to his family, legal counsel, and medical attention. Concerns over his continued detention and well-being have grown, especially as attempts by his lawyers to secure access to him have gone unanswered.

In a formal appeal to the DSS, a law firm representing the family of Amieyeofori has requested immediate access to the detained journalist and called for his release on bail.

The letter, dated July 7, 2025, was issued by Steel Attorneys, a firm of legal practitioners based in Abuja, and addressed to the Director General of the DSS, with attention to the agency’s Legal Services Department.

In the letter, signed by Tamunotonye Ekundayo, the firm stated that it was acting on the instructions of Amieyeofori’s family. The detained journalist, they reminded the DSS, is a respected media practitioner, pro-democracy activist, and human rights advocate who was arrested on March 10, 2025, by operatives of the DSS in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.

“Since his arrest, [he] has been in your custody till date,” the lawyers wrote. “As such, we request that he should be granted access to his lawyers, family and ultimately be released on bail, being the breadwinner of his home, pending the conclusion of investigation.”

Citing legal precedents and international obligations binding on Nigeria, the letter referenced the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Charter, all of which, the firm noted, “solidly guarantee the rights of detainees to legal representation and attorneys of their choice.”

The legal team urged the DSS to respond promptly and favorably to the request, adding, “Whilst anticipating your prompt and favourable response, please accept our kind regards.”

However, no response was received from the agency.

A follow-up reminder was sent and acknowledged by the DSS on July 9, 2025. In that correspondence, human rights lawyer M.D. Abubakar strongly criticised the agency’s alleged pattern of unconstitutional detentions.

“Sadly, as experience has shown, the service has an unconstitutional disdain, disregard and contempt of granting access to persons under detention,” Abubakar wrote.

“Please note that the right of detainees to access attorneys of their choice and to prompt and adequate representation is a right protected by the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the UN Charter, and other international treaties and best practices which solidly guarantee the rights of detainees to legal representation and attorneys of their choice.”

As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has neither acknowledged the petitions publicly nor commented on the circumstances surrounding Amieyeofori’s prolonged detention.

However, a family member told DAILY POST that the secret police has finally allowed their legal counsel to see Amieyeofori on Tuesday.

Queen Esther Charles Alikor (née Amieyeofori), the elder sister to the journalist, told DAILY POST earlier that:

“The arrest of Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori, my brother, by the DSS has caused the entire family gross pain, affliction and agony. A lot has gone wrong in the family due to his unexpected absence, things that will break him down when he gets to hear it.

“They took him away, deprived him of access to his family. This is oppression and intimidation. DSS, release and free Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori. This is on behalf of the family.”

Chaos As Military Officers Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s Visit To Bayelsa (Videos)

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Personnel of the Nigerian military were seen engaging in a fight during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa on Friday.

In a video spotted on social media, the driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” was seen stepping down from his vehicle and exchanging words with another driver.

After returning to his vehicle, another driver with a rifle approached him and threw a punch at the Naval Police driver, triggering a brawl.

The incident quickly escalated into a free-for-all, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows, while stunned civilians watched in disbelief.

HRH Ekwueme of Ochia Kingdom Iynched & kiIIed in Imo.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia, Barr Paulinus Ekwueme, alongside security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. The attackers ambushed the monarch at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities after he returned from a trip abroad earlier in the week.

Some security operatives in his convoy were also shot dead. Eyewitness said the monarch and the security operatives were set ablaze after the killing, adding that the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning.

Hrm lives in America, but some in his town accuse him of acquiring lots of wealth coming from the oil in their land and yet they have no nepa (light) and other amenities, and that this angered the youths of his community to take this step. One said Ms Duruaku wrote, “he ate the youth empowerment meant given to him by shell oil company and ran abroad for years”

#Ekwutosblog

Abuja hotel collapse: Wike orders arrest of owner, to convert land to public use

Published

2 weeks ago

April 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of a multi-story hotel that collapsed in Jikwoyi, Abuja last Friday, April 4 and announced that the land would be seized for public use.

LIB had reported that the building crumbled while workers were on site, triggering an emergency response from relevant authorities.

Visiting the site today April 7, Wike said the building was constructed without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that all the stop-work notices sent to the builders were ignored by the developer.

Wike confirmed that while there were no fatalities, several people sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. He warned that the outcome could have been far worse.

Announcing the government’s plans for the land, Wike said the FCT Administration will take over the land for public use, noting that those responsible for the illegal construction will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

He added that the local community would be consulted to determine a suitable public-purpose project for the reclaimed site.