Professor Okey Ndibe, one of Nigeria’s best known distinguished novelists, academic and public intellectual was briefly detained at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMIA), Lagos on arrival in the country on Monday morning from his base in the United States of America (USA) by agents of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The operatives who arrested Professor Ndibe insisted that they are waiting for orders from above before he can be released.
According to a statement by Professor Ndibe’s close associate, he “has time-bound duties he he planned to accomplish in Nigeria which are being impeded by this unwarranted detention.
“This harassment by the security officers has been happening before only for them to apologize later after much harm had been done.
“It is crucial to note that Prof Ndibe has not written any journalism lately to make for this maltreatment and the recourse to higher officials of the SSS for his clearance.”
But an inside source said “DSS @OfficialDSSNG did not arrest or detain Prof Okey Ndibe@OkeyNdibe. Rather, upon arrival from the United States, today 1st June, at 11.30am, he was routinely questioned in line with international best practices at the border control.
“The DSS action according to the source stems from a Watch-List Action (WLA), which was initiated on him in 2013 during President Jonathan’s administration but has recently been downgraded by the present DG DSS.
“It was gathered that the helmsman had directed review of old WLAs and part of the procedure is to engage with those who have been watch-listed to facilitate final delisting.
“Prof Ndibe according to the source departed the airport barely 30mins after procedural engagement.”
