Plateau Activist Alleges Repeated Arrests, 46-Day Detention After Demanding Local Govt Spending Records

A Plateau State accountability advocate, Nansel Selnan Lar, has raised concerns over his alleged repeated arrests and 46-day detention after he sought access to government records on the management of public funds and execution of development projects in Langtang North and Langtang South Local Government Areas.

Lar, a resident of Langtang North, said his ordeal began after he submitted a series of requests seeking access to government records on local government budgets, capital projects, procurement processes, payments and the implementation of public infrastructure.

According to him, rather than being granted access to the records he requested under the Freedom of Information Act, he was arrested on multiple occasions and taken  to the Plateau State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) three times.

Lar said the authorities' response to his accountability efforts was not the disclosure of the requested information but a series of arrests and detention over his demands for accountability for public funds.

“I believe this experience raises serious concerns about the protection of citizens who peacefully seek accountability from public officials,” he said.

The activist is now seeking the intervention of human rights and civil society organizations to investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrests and detention.

The activist, who disclosed this in a detailed account made available to human rights advocates, said he was eventually detained at the Jos Custodial Centre for 46 days before his release.

Lar's allegations have raised questions about whether citizens seeking transparency in the management of public resources can safely exercise their rights without facing intimidation, arrest or prolonged detention.

According to the advocate, his requests were submitted through lawful channels, including the Freedom of Information Act, and focused on projects and expenditures directly affecting residents of the two local government areas.

Among the records he sought were details of local government budget implementation, capital projects, procurement and payment documentation.

He also requested information on public infrastructure projects, including schools, healthcare facilities, roads, boreholes, markets and other community projects.

Lar said the authorities' response to his accountability efforts was not the disclosure of the requested information but a series of arrests and detention over his demands for accountability for public funds.

“I believe this experience raises serious concerns about the protection of citizens who peacefully seek accountability from public officials,” he said.

The activist is now seeking the intervention of human rights and civil society organizations to investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrests and detention.

He wants the organizations to determine whether his constitutional rights and rights guaranteed under Nigerian law were violated and, where appropriate, provide legal and human rights support.

He is also calling for monitoring of the handling of accountability requests submitted to the relevant public institutions and greater protection for Nigerians who use lawful means to demand access to public information.

Lar said he has documentary evidence that could assist any investigation into his allegations.

According to him, the documents include copies of Freedom of Information requests, correspondence with the Langtang North and Langtang South Local Government Councils, responses received from the councils, budget documents, project records, and court and detention-related documents.

The activist said he was seeking intervention because he believed no citizen should be subjected to intimidation, arrest or prolonged detention merely for demanding transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

However, the circumstances surrounding Lar's individual arrests, the specific allegations or charges against him, the authorities responsible for his detention and the legal basis for the 46-day detention could not be independently established from his account.

The allegations also raise questions about the responses of the relevant local government councils and security authorities to Lar's requests, including whether the requests were formally received, how they were handled and whether any legal proceedings or charges resulted from his arrests.

Lar's case comes amid continuing concerns in Nigeria over transparency in public spending and the ability of citizens and civil society actors to obtain information about government expenditure and projects.