Gen Ibrahim Babangida's election campaign chief Raymond Dokpesi has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria's secret police over his arrest in connection to the Independence Day bombings in Abuja. Dokpesi was one of nine people arrested over the twin car bombings, which killed at least 12 people. He is subsequently demanding $660,000 in damages.
Dokpesi, who owns the Africa Independent Television network, one of Nigeria's biggest, was freed approximately nine hours after being detained on 4th October. He says the arrest was "malicious".
Dokpesi is Gen Babangida's aide and is currently helping him run a campaign challenging President Goodluck Jonathan for the right to become Nigeria's governing party's presidential candidate. Upon Dokpesi arrested, police officials said they suspected him of exchanging text messages with the alleged mastermind behind the bombings, Henry Okah, who has been charged with terrorism offences in South Africa, where he is based.
Okah, former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), has denied any links to the blasts, but an e-mail purportedly sent by Mend said it had carried out the attacks.
On Monday, another candidate for the People's Democratic Party nomination Atiku Abubakar called for an international inquiry into the Independence Day bombings to ensure the investigations were not manipulated for political reasons.
Source: BBC News
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