Human Rights Defender Facing Intimidation

Human rights defender Maurice Fangnon was detained at the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department in Abuja accused of providing police with false information that a member of a powerful royal family was responsible for arson, murder and forced evictions of residents of the Otodo-Gbame community. He was released four days later, but was asked to report back on Wednesday, 2 August. Amnesty International is concerned that this is an attempt to intimidate him.

Human rights defender Maurice Fangnon was detained at the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department in Abuja accused of providing police with false information that a member of a powerful royal family was responsible for arson, murder and forced evictions of residents of the Otodo-Gbame community. He was released four days later, but was asked to report back on Wednesday, 2 August. Amnesty International is concerned that this is an attempt to intimidate him. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

• Urging the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the harassment of Maurice Fangnon, including his arrest;
• Calling on the government to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of arson, murder, assault, forced eviction and willful destruction of property, which took place in the Otodo-Gbame community.

Contact these two officials by 6 September, 2017:

Governor of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Twitter: @AkinwunmiAmbode Facebook: www.facebook.com/Akinwunmi.Ambode Email: [email protected] Contact form: http://akinwunmiambode.com/contact-us/ Salutation: Your Excellency

Chargé d’Affaires Hakeem Balogun Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 3519 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008 Tel: (202) 986-8400 (ext. 100 for Balogun) Fax: (202) 362-6541 Email: [email protected] -or- [email protected] Salutation: Dear Counsellor

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