Asari-Dokubo Arrested In Benin Republic

By SaharaReporters, New York
The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force,
Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was today arrested in
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
A statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said Dokubo
was picked up by the police between 1:00pm and 2:00pm
around the Lubeleyi roundabout, and taken to an
unknown destination.
The wealthy former militant reportedly opened a
private university in the Benin Republic, the King
Amachree African University that is preparing to start
degree-awarding programmes in 2014.
“We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries
on legitimate business and has been living partly in
Benin Republic for many years now,” Keyamo said in his
statement. “In fact, he owns houses, schools and an
academy in that country. All these places have been
searched as at this evening and nothing incriminating
was found.”
He suggested that Dokubo’s arrest and detention may
be a ploy by “certain forces in Nigeria in unholy alliance
with the Beninoise government” to keep his client away
as 2015 approaches.
“We call on 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,” he
said.
Dokubo has in recent times vowed that unless Mr.
President Jonathan retains the presidency in 2015,
Nigeria would break up.