We, the undersigned, (#NigerianWomenArise) of the Feminist Womanifesto Group, condemn in strong terms the continued harassment on the #ENDSARS movement activists. We note with alarm that on 3rd November 2020, Module Chizoba Odele a Nigerian Attorney and the co-lead of ENDSARSLegal, an initiative which provided free legal aid to peaceful #ENDSARS protesters had her Nigerian International passport confiscated by a member of the Nigerian Immigration Service.
We strongly condemn the actions of the Immigration Service, the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) and by extension the Nigerian government in confiscating the passport of Ms. Odele.
We urge the Nigerian government to protect the freedom and rights of all citizens, including Ms. Odele. As a Nigerian citizen, Section 41 of the Constitution guarantees Ms. Odele the right to move freely in and out of Nigeria. Thus, any restriction of her movement is illegal and wholly unconstitutional. Section 5 of the Passport Act 1985 gives the Minister of Interior the power to cancel or withdraw a passport, the section also states clearly, the conditions for such a withdrawal. Unless the Minister is furnished with confidential information not available in the public space, we see no legal reason(s) why Ms. Odele’s passport should be confiscated. Suffice it to say that such an act is tantamount to infringement and intimidation, both of which call into question Nigeria’s commitment to fundamental democratic principles and could cause reputational damage to Nigeria at home and on the international stage.
We deplore in the strongest terms, all acts of mental, emotional or physical intimation towards any member of the Feminist Coalition for exercising their right to peaceful protest, as accorded to every Nigerian under Section 40 of the Nigerian constitution. We believe that Ms. Odele and others are being targeted for the role they played during the #ENDSARS protest. We want to remind the government of Nigeria that we are in a democratic system. Citizens’ right to express themselves through peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We also use this opportunity to applaud the valorous actions of DJ Switch on the tragic Tuesday night: “Black Tuesday.” Further, we commend the rest of the brave young men and women of the Feminist Coalition for their courage and inspiration. Our growing trepidation is further exacerbated by news that DJ Switch – Obianuju Catherine Udeh – is now believed to have been forced into hiding like a fugitive. We are hereby highlighting our increased concern for the safety of all members of the Feminist Coalition.
We demand that the Nigerian government put a stop to the harassment of the members of the Feminist Coalition, DJ Switch, and all the peaceful #ENDSARS protesters. We expect that the Nigerian government will ensure their safety and the protection of their rights as bestowed upon them by virtue of our Constitution as citizens of a democratic society.
The #NigerianWomenArise assures the youths of our absolute support and solidarity with their ENDSARS agitation. We will do all that is necessary to help safeguard their right to peaceful protests. Nigerian women will continue to closely monitor the events as they unfold. We will take appropriate measures to protect and defend our democracy and the rule of law, both ingredients required for peace and justice to reign.
May the souls of those who lost their lives during this protest rest in peace.
We the undersigned are members of the Feminist Womanifesto Group:
Abimbola Junaid Abiodun Essiet Abiola Akiyode Afolabi Adaobi Egboka Adebanke Akinrimisi Adekemi Ndieli Adenike Grange Adenike Shobajo Aderonke Adesanya Aderonke Bello Adeola Awogbemi Aderonke Imana Adetoun Ilumoka Aderonke Ige Agatha Osieke Aisha Haliru Adiya Ode Akinola Christiana Allisa Mimi Aishatu I. Kilishi Amina A. Adamu Amina Salihu Amina Aliyu Angela Odah Anne Adidu Amy Oyekunle Anthonia Duru Anthonia Ojenagbon Anne Ikpeme Anuoluwapo Agbaje Ashley Dauda Añuli Ola-Olaniyi Atinuke Odusanya Ayisha Osori Asmau Benzies Leo Ayo Atsenuwa Ayodeji Fadugba Aisha M. Oyebode Ayodele Olofintuade Azeezat Olaoluwa Ayodeji Osowobi Bella Anne Ndubuisi Betty Abah Basirat Adesina Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi Bisi Aina Bimbo Oloyede Bola Akanji Bose Ironsi Blessing Digha Bukola Onyishi Bunmi Oyinsan Bridget Osakwe Chiedo Nwankwor Chinelo Njemanze Celine Okoro Chinwe Onyeukwu Chioma Agwuegbo Chineme Ezekwenna Constance O.Okeke Constance Okeke Christiana A-Oluwole Daisy Funke Debra Ode Cynthia Mbamalu Dorcas Iorkusa Dorcas Kwamande Doose Didi Dudu Manuga Ebere Ifendu Dorothy Njemanze Ejiro Otive-Igbuzor Ekaete Umoh Ebi Emezue Elizabeth Jeiyol Emem Otuoke Eleanor Nwadinobi Juliana Oyegun Ene Ede Modupe Asama Esosa Edobor Esther Eghobamen Enitan Okediji Esther Olufunke Evelyn Oti Esther Hindi Ezinwa Okoroafor Felicia Onibon Evelyn Ugbe Fakhrriyah Hashim Funke Akiyode Foluke Ademokun Funke Oladipo Funmi Para Mallam Funke Ijayekunle Georgeleen Ekon Geraldyn Debbie Funmilola Oyefusi Hajara Adamu Halima Abubakar Grace Adeniyi Helen Tegtegh Helen William Gracy Mbah Ier Jonathan Ife Sarumi Hansatu Adegbite Iheoma obibi Ijeoma Jessica Uzoeshi Hellen Netugu William Inim Ufon Etuk Irene Ugbah Ifeyinwa Achike Irene Ugbah Ireti Disu Ijeoma Thomas-Odia Iryn Omorogiuwa Ivy Odia Basil-Ofili Irene Pogoson Itoro Anaba Josephine E-Chukwuma Ireti Bakare-Yusuf Joan Jummai Idonije Joy Lydia Iyabo Bassir Joy Ngozi Ezeilo Kate Banjoko Jite Phido Kadaria Ahmed Kemi Akinremi Josephine Obinyan Kehinde Afolabi Laila St. Matthew Daniels Joy Onyesoh Kyauta Giwa Limota Goroso Kate Omolola Banjoko Lillian Okenwa Loretta O. Enofe-Laurel Kemi Okeyondo Lois Chinedu Mabel Onwuemele Lesley Agams Louisa E-Agbonkhese Mandy Asagba Lois Auta Mairo Mandara Mariam Oyiza Lola Fademi Mariam Aliyu Mary George Peluola Mabel. A. Ade Mary Ekpere Eta Mikang Longjan Manre Chirtau Mfon Usoro Modupe Asama Mary Afan Miriam Menkiti Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome Mary Ikoku Moji Makanjuola Mufuliat Fijabi Mirabel Edozie Motunrayo Mustapha Ndodeye B-Obongha Mimido Achakpa Nana Tanko Ngukwase Surma Moremi Ojudu Ngozi Juba Nkechi O-Udegbunam Mutiat Oladejo Nkechi -Omekedo Ogechi Hepzibah Ikeh Ngozi Iwere Oby Ezekwesili Ojobo Atuluku Niri Goyit Oguadimma I. Joy Olakitan Wellington Nnenna Anozie Olabukunola Williams Oluchi Okpechi Ogechi Ikeh Olayinka Babalola Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam Okiemute Olori Oluwatoni Adeleke Oluyemisi Obilade Olanike Shobajo Omolayo Ojo Onyema Afulukwe Olufunke Baruwa Nwachukwu O. K-Sanni Osai Ojigho Oluwatobi Ayodele Pamela Osakwe Patricia Donli Omekedo Oby Princess H-Obels Princess Olufemi-Kayode Onyinyechi Ogadinma Priscilla Usibaifo Queency Patrick Osasumwen Edobor Roibito Ekpiken-Ekane Ramatu Bako Peyi S Soyinka-Airewele Subomi Chuku Rose Gyar Priscilla M Achakpa Temilola George Sumbo Odebode Rahmat Abisola Abdullahi Ramat Abdullahi Titilayo O. Akerele Terfa Suswam Rhoda Prevail Tyoden Uche Hilary-Ogbonna Titilola V Adeniyi Sola Folayan Victoria Bassey Uche Nwokedi Suwaiba Yakubu Jibrin Vivian Efem-Bassey Victoria Emah-Emah Theopile Madu Yemisi Ashimolowo Wumi Asubiaro Dada Toni Adeleke Yinka Omorogbe Yemi Adamolekun Zarah Ahmad Yinka Shokunbi Vicky Sylvester Violet Ochekwu
cc: The Senate President, NASS The Speaker, NASS The Chairman of Governors’ Forums Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission The British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria German Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Swiss Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights