International Passports Of US-based Nigerian Columnist Okey Ndibe Released

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The state security services of Nigeria this morning released the passports of popular newspaper columnist, Okey Ndibe, claiming that his arrest last Saturday at the Murtala Mohammed International airport was about an "old issue".

The director of the SSS at the agency's Ikoyi Lagos office promptly released Ndibe's US and Nigerian passports to him stating that such seizure would never happen again.

Mr. Ndibe was arrested upon arrival at the airport, briefly detained by SSS agents who asked him to meet with their Lagos director 10: 00 AM this morning for further interview to iron out a few issues regarding his scathing weekly columns.

Since the incident on Saturday Nigerians at home and abroad, including Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka has condemned the government for violating Mr. Ndibe's rights.

Apart from Professor Wole Soyinka, the UK-based Respect Nigerians Coalition (RNC), New York-based Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) and the Nigeriavillage Square all issued strong statements condemning the throwback to tyranny.

However, Nigerian officials kept mute over the issue throughout Mr. Ndibe's ordeal in the hands of the SSS signalling that the action must have caused the Jonathan regime serious embarrassment. Presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro, as well as the SSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar did not respond to enquiries.

Okey Ndibe's brief statement:

 I have my passports

I am delighted to report that my meeting this afternoon with the director of Nigeria's State Security Service yielded the return of my passports. I'll give a full account of the meeting later.
Again, I treasure your concern and words of encouragement.

OkeyOkey Ndibe and his attorney Sanya Fagbemi with his passports after the SSS released them with "apologies"

Ahaoma Kanu, Respect Nigerians Coalition Nigerian resident activists interviews Okey NdibeRNC's Tosin Awotesu, Okey Ndibe and Ahaoma Kanu