Jonathan's Strong Supporter Asari Dokubo Arrested In Cotonou

Is somebody trying to scare President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 election? Well, this is the insinuation in certain quarters following the arrest of his strongest supporter, Alhaji Asari Dokubo in the Benin Republic capital, Cotonou, on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources told tweet9ja that the ex-militant who has been talking tough in Nigeria was rounded up and whisked away to an undisclosed location as soon as he arrived the country. But what is his offence?
Here is what Asari Dokubo's lawyer, Barr. Festus Keyamo is saying:

First, Keyamo is claiming that Asari was not arrested for running any illegitimate business in the country. He noted that the ex-militant had been residing lawfully in Benin Republic for many years.

It was gathered that the ex-militant reportedly opened a private university; King Amachree African University, in Benin Republic. The university is preparing to start degree-awarding programmes in 2014.



Keyamo's statement said: “Today, Tuesday, November 26, 2013, my friend and client, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, around the hours of 1pm and 2pm by the country’s gendarmes (police).

“He was picked up around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to an unknown destination. In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places have been searched as of this evening and nothing incriminating was found.”

Keyamo expressed the conviction that “Dokubo’s arrest and detention are a ploy by certain forces in Nigeria in an unholy alliance with the Beninoise government to keep him away as 2015 approaches.

“We call on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria.”