Nollywood Producer and actor Yomi Fabiyi, in a post published on his Instagram page has called on his colleagues in the entertainment industry to rally round and save Baba Suwe because “the torture done on him by NDLEA is vastly damaging his health at an alarming rate.”
Yoruba actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in 2011 on the suspicion of carrying cocaine in his stomach. He was detained for three weeks by NDLEA but no drugs were ever found. The NDLEA were ordered to tender a public apology to the actor and also pay him N25million.
Fabiyi wrote, “On BABA SUWE: I am calling on all SENIOR COLLEAGUES in the entertainment world especially those close to Baba Suwe cos I don’t have everyone’s contact to please reachout to him asap. The torture done on him by NDLEA is vastly damaging his health at an alarming rate. He told me he no longer feel comfortable since that episode. Baba Suwe is a widower, he can hardly walk properly as I speak, let alone go to film. How will he feed and take care of the children aunty Moladun left behind?”
“This is an A-List Entertainer and this conspiracy of silence gives me MENTAL AGONY on my part, I don’t want to speak when it may be too late, I won’t forgive myself. He told me when I visited him that he is innocent of the accusations and yet a LONG PIPE was inserted through his anus, he was detained for too long amongst other things just because he was randomly suspected like every normal person. In my opinion, only lazy, ill-trained, unfit and uncivilised officers torture in the name of investigation. Torture is criminal and sinful. If this accusation is found to be true by independent investigators, it shouldn’t go unpunished.”
“The court asked NDLEA to pay him 25million for damages which is yet to be obeyed but to me an OPEN APOLOGY will placate him and illustrate some dignified and civil approach from a government agency that made him go through all that without coming up with a single proof after that prolonged detention and drama. He who assert MUST prove! NDLEA needs to restore public confidence by doing the needful on this matter. And until individuals and government agency begin to respect fundamental HUMAN RIGHT and enhance duty of care, the essence of Nigeria’s FREEDOM is far from been realistic. No malice is intended against NDLEA with this outcry, I just hope the leadership see this as a clarion call for getting it right and save the agency from sending an innocent person to an early grave whereby leaving his children to suffer unjustly. My humble take. Thank you. #JUSTICEFORBABASUWE #SAVEBABASUWE #SAYNOTOTORTURE”
