File photo of police officers
The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has raised the alarm over what it described as an attempted abduction of Yisa Usman, a whistleblower who exposed alleged procurement and administrative irregularities at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
In a statement signed by Chido Onumah, AFRICMIL coordinator, on Monday, the organisation said a team of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, stormed Usman’s residence on Wednesday in a bid to whisk him away without a warrant of arrest.
“It’s shocking that the police exhibited this shameful behaviour despite several ongoing lawsuits related to the whistleblower’s dismissal and prosecution by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),” Onumah said.
He added that Usman, who had filed multiple disclosures about malpractices within JAMB, has been subjected to continuous harassment, including dismissal, criminal charges, and coordinated acts of intimidation.
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AFRICMIL said the police team claimed it was acting on the order of the inspector-general of police (IGP). However, at the time of the visit, Usman was not in Abuja.
“He was never served with a warrant of arrest, nor was one shown to him. Attempts to obtain details of the issuing court were reportedly rebuffed by the officers involved,” Omunah added.
The organisation described the incident as an “ugly development”, especially as it occurred while court cases relating to Usman’s whistleblowing remain unresolved.
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These include a 2024 fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Zone 7 police command, a defamation charge by the same command in favour of a policewoman reportedly attached to JAMB, and a case at the National Industrial Court where Usman is challenging what he calls an unlawful and retaliatory dismissal from JAMB.
AFRICMIL said it does not intend to prejudice the outcome of these cases.
“However, it is deeply troubling that law enforcement officers would attempt to arrest a whistleblower without following due process,” the organisation noted.
“The refusal to disclose the origin of the purported arrest warrant or follow legally mandated procedures raises serious questions about the conduct of the officers involved.”
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The group warned that the incident reflects the systemic risks whistleblowers continue to face in Nigeria, despite institutional promises of protection.
AFRICMIL called on the IGP, the Police Service Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and other oversight agencies to immediately investigate the attempted arrest and ensure that Usman and other whistleblowers acting in the public interest are protected from reprisals.
