A former Minister of Education and a champion of the #BringBackOurGirls
Campaign, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has narrated her ordeals in the hands of
security operatives at the Abuja International Airport on Monday.
Ezekwesili was delayed for over 40 minutes by men of the Department of
State Security, who harassed her based on “orders from above.”
Narrating her ordeals to members of the Christian Association of
Nigerian-Americans, to whom she is a trustee on Tuesday, Ezekwesili gave a blow
by blow account of her ordeals in the hands of DSS. This was contained in a statement by the CANAN Executive Director,
Pastor Laolu Akande, after the former minister visited the group in London.
“I was travelling light, with just my hand luggage leather roll on and
my computer bag. I placed the bag for them (to see) and one was already
furiously frisking through it when the Customs advised that a woman be allowed
to do it. She was allowed and she did it.
“She finished, zipped up the luggage and they said I could proceed. But
I asked that the computer bag be also searched, and they did. “I went on to do my checking and got my boarding pass, and was swiftly
done. I arrived the Departure Immigration Desk at about 7.15am and presented my
passport and forms. The Immigration staff did his processing and handed to the
SSS official. Usually, their entire process lasts no more than five to 10
minutes on a passport. As a frequent traveller through our Lagos and Abuja
airports, I speak based on experience and evidence. Even on the same day, the
process for other travellers that I witnessed did not last more than five
minutes. But on Monday, it became five, 10, 15 and 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 minutes
for the Departure Desk processing for me, with no explanation given except “We
act under instruction.”
Ezekwesili said after 10 minutes of waiting, she asked the officer why
her passport was not handed over to her.
“He responded, “I am not doing this personally madam. I am simply acting
based on instruction, and you of all persons should understand that.”
“When it was 20 minutes into the process, and with BA announcing the
final boarding call for the 8am flight, the officer walked out of the cubicle,
heading off. I followed him, asking where he was going without giving back my
passport nor an explanation on why it was being withheld. His nonchalant
response was “just wait. I am trying to help you”.
“It became evident that they withheld the passport to detain me at their
departure desk in order to miss the flight. That was when I tweeted @ 7.37am
“@obyezeks: Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport. The SSS has refused to give my passport to me.”
At 7.41am “@obyezeks: On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk
appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my
passport.”
“At that point, I brought out my phone to record him even as I asked for
the passport. He got angry and charged at me that he would seize my phone. Then
his colleague screamed at him a third time to handover the passport. He did,”
she said.
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