The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has demanded the immediate release of a social media activist, Sir. Tonye Okio, who has allegedly been confined to illegal imprisonment in his home state, Bayelsa, for almost a month.

CSNAC in a statement signed by its Programme Officer, Toyin Koleade, lambasted Governor Seriake Dickson and the Bayelsa State Judiciary over their “tyrannical conspiracy” which has put Okio out of circulation since he was arrested from his Abuja home on October 26 “based on the orders of Mr. Dickson.”

According to CSNAC in the statement made available to News Express, “After his arbitrary arrest, Sir Tonye Okio was arraigned before a magistrate court on a charge of defamation. The Court however granted him a stringent and unrealistic bail on the 21st of November, 2013. The bail condition was that the accused produce a surety in the standing a serving Permanent Secretary in the state.

“This is in a state where the Governor reigns supreme and every innocent and positive criticism is considered an opposition. Naturally, no Bayelsa Permanent Secretary is willing to stand for Sir Tonye Okio. He his therefore left to languish in prison for almost a month as a consequence of judicial insensitivity of the Magistrate.

“On the 16th of December, 2013, Sir Tonye Okio returned to a Yenagoa High Court to ask for a variation of the unacceptable bail terms but that matter is yet to be decided.”

CSNAC said “it is unfortunate that public office holders, voted in to power or assume office through crooked means turn around to hunt down the masses and abuse power with impunity.” It regretted that “many of our political office holders lack respect for the people, corrupts the judiciary and violates the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Constitution with utmost recklessness.”

CSNAC demanded “the immediate release of Sir Tonye Okio by the Bayelsa State Governor and his conspirators in the Bayelsa State Judiciary.”

•Photo shows Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

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