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.
Akande quoted Ezekwesili as saying that, “I
arrived at the airport yesterday (on Monday) to travel to London on British
Airline. First, after the luggage screening section, I moved to the Customs
people, sitting right next to it and do a more thorough bag search. Rather than
they handling my luggage as is the practice, there were three SSS men, who
rudely took over before they could do so, and ordered me to open my bag.
“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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