Victor EzejaHUMAN Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an investigation of the death of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Obadiah Mailafia.
Mailafia who was a development economist, died at National Hospital, Abuja on Sunday morning.
In a media statement endorsed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA noted that one year ago, Obadiah who was a social and political activist raised alarm of threat to his life by forces that opposed his activities, but the threat was never investigated till his death, and alleged that there could be a connection between the threat and his sudden death.
The rights group called on Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) to jointly organize an independent forensic investigation to determine the remote and immediate cause of Mailafia’s death.
HURIWA said, “Exactly one year ago on September 11th 2020 at the height of the incessant harassment by the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a critic of the current administration, Dr Obadiah Mailafia raised alarm of death threat as follows: ‘Please, pray for me. I have reasons to believe that my life is in danger and that some powerful political forces want to silence me forever for speaking the truth. For speaking on behalf of the Holy Martyrs — of thousands of innocent children, women, elderly and youths that have been killed in our beloved country.’
“There are very unassailable reasons to believe that the alarm he raised which was never investigated may be the harbinger of his sudden demise in Abuja on Sunday September 19th 2021.
“With the above preamble, HURIWA asks the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) to jointly hire top notch forensic investigation teams to independently probe the immediate and remote circumstances of the death of Obadiah Mailafia so as to ascertain the exact cause of the death of a man who since the past few Years became the voice of truth against the powers- that -be and the champion of the
Principle Of Rule Of Law In Nigeria.
“HURIWA expresses disappointment that months after the erstwhile Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia raised the alarm that government agents were after him, there was never any effort made in the direction of unraveling the forces who wanted him dead and he was overlooked and allowed to be wasted in such a callous manner and we are only being told that he died after brief illness.”
The group also called on the presidency to investigate issues of threat to personal life of human rights campaigners in the country, while Human rights Commission to be alive to its responsibility.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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