The family of journalist and former African Independent Television (AIT) staffer, Dr Tekena Amieyeofori, has raised the alarm over his continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 10 March 2025.
Amieyeofori was allegedly abducted in Abuja following his involvement in exposing alleged corruption within the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). At the time of his arrest, he was serving as National Secretary of the Niger Delta Youth Synergy & Co., alongside the group’s President, Comrade Goodluck Braide. Both were picked up shortly after submitting a petition to the Executive Secretary of NUPRC, Engr Gbenga Komolafe.
The petition, co-signed by Amieyeofori, accused the commission of multiple infractions — ranging from entrenched corruption and poor enforcement of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Policy to overall incompetence in regulating the upstream petroleum sector. The group alleged that the commission’s actions constituted a gross violation of its statutory mandate under Komolafe’s leadership.
Since their arrest, Amieyeofori has reportedly been denied access to his family, legal counsel, and medical care, prompting growing fears for his well-being. Efforts by his legal representatives to gain access have been repeatedly rebuffed.
In a formal appeal dated 7 July 2025, Abuja-based law firm Steel Attorneys, acting on behalf of Amieyeofori’s family, petitioned the DSS for immediate access to the journalist and his release on bail. The letter, addressed to the Director-General of the DSS and signed by Tamunotonye Ekundayo, described Amieyeofori as a respected media professional, pro-democracy advocate, and human rights activist.
“Since his arrest, [he] has remained in your custody,” the letter stated. “We request that he be granted access to his lawyers, family, and ultimately be released on bail, as the breadwinner of his household, pending the conclusion of investigations.”
The lawyers cited constitutional provisions and international obligations binding on Nigeria — including the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Charter — all of which guarantee the right of detainees to legal representation.
Despite a formal follow-up dated 9 July 2025 — acknowledged by the DSS — no substantive response has been received. Human rights lawyer M.D. Abubakar, in that correspondence, criticised what he termed the DSS’s “unconstitutional disdain” for upholding detainees’ rights.
“Experience has shown that the service displays an unconstitutional contempt for granting access to persons under detention,” Abubakar wrote. “The right to legal counsel is guaranteed under both Nigerian and international law.”
As of press time, the DSS has neither acknowledged the petitions publicly nor provided any clarification on Amieyeofori’s prolonged detention.
However, a family source confirmed to DAILY POST that the DSS finally permitted legal counsel to visit Amieyeofori on Tuesday.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Queen Esther Charles Alikor (née Amieyeofori), the journalist’s elder sister, expressed the family’s anguish:
“The arrest of Dr Tekena Amieyeofori by the DSS has inflicted deep pain and anguish on our family. His unexpected absence has disrupted so much in our lives — things that will break his heart when he learns of them.
“They took him away and cut him off from his family. This is sheer oppression and intimidation. On behalf of the family, we demand: DSS, release and free Dr Tekena Amieyeofori.”
