Family of journalist AMIEYEOFORI cry for justice following his arrest and continued detention by DSS

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - The family of journalist and former African Independent Television, AIT, staff, Tekena Amieyeofori, has cried out following his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services, DSS, since March 10, 2025.

His reportedly abduction, as the family described it, happened in Abuja over his role in exposing alleged corruption within the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

Amieyeofori, also serving as the National Secretary of the Niger Delta Youth Synergy & Co., was arrested alongside Comrade Goodluck Braide, the group’s President, after they submitted a petition addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.

The petition, which Amieyeofori co-signed, alleged wide-ranging infractions, including egregious corruption, poor implementation of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Policy, and the incompetent regulation of the upstream petroleum sector.

The group, in the letter, had condemned the activities of the commission, which amounted to an “infraction of the statutory mandate of the commission under Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.”

Since their arrest, Amieyeofori has reportedly been denied access to his family, legal counsel, and medical attention. Concerns over his continued detention and well-being have grown, especially as attempts by his lawyers to secure access to him have gone unanswered.

In a formal appeal to the DSS, a law firm representing the family of Amieyeofori has requested immediate access to the detained journalist and called for his release on bail.

The letter, dated July 7, 2025, was issued by Steel Attorneys, a firm of legal practitioners based in Abuja, and addressed to the Director General of the DSS, with attention to the agency’s Legal Services Department.

In the letter, signed by Tamunotonye Ekundayo, the firm stated that it was acting on the instructions of Amieyeofori’s family. The detained journalist, they reminded the DSS, is a respected media practitioner, pro-democracy activist, and human rights advocate who was arrested on March 10, 2025, by operatives of the DSS in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.

“Since his arrest, [he] has been in your custody till date,” the lawyers wrote. “As such, we request that he should be granted access to his lawyers, family and ultimately be released on bail, being the breadwinner of his home, pending the conclusion of investigation.”

Citing legal precedents and international obligations binding on Nigeria, the letter referenced the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Charter, all of which, the firm noted, “solidly guarantee the rights of detainees to legal representation and attorneys of their choice.”

The legal team urged the DSS to respond promptly and favorably to the request, adding, “Whilst anticipating your prompt and favourable response, please accept our kind regards.”

However, no response was received from the agency.

A follow-up reminder was sent and acknowledged by the DSS on July 9, 2025. In that correspondence, human rights lawyer M.D. Abubakar strongly criticised the agency’s alleged pattern of unconstitutional detentions.

“Sadly, as experience has shown, the service has an unconstitutional disdain, disregard and contempt of granting access to persons under detention,” Abubakar wrote.

“Please note that the right of detainees to access attorneys of their choice and to prompt and adequate representation is a right protected by the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the UN Charter, and other international treaties and best practices which solidly guarantee the rights of detainees to legal representation and attorneys of their choice.”

As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has neither acknowledged the petitions publicly nor commented on the circumstances surrounding Amieyeofori’s prolonged detention.

However, a family member revealed that the secret police has finally allowed their legal counsel to see Amieyeofori on Tuesday.

Queen Esther Charles Alikor (née Amieyeofori), the elder sister to the journalist that:

“The arrest of Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori, my brother, by the DSS has caused the entire family gross pain, affliction and agony. A lot has gone wrong in the family due to his unexpected absence, things that will break him down when he gets to hear it.

“They took him away, deprived him of access to his family. This is oppression and intimidation. DSS, release and free Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori. This is on behalf of the family.”