The family of the detained peace activist, Chief (Dr) Mrs. Judith Asuni, has blamed the woes of their matriarch on those they called powerful top government officials “who are beneficiaries of the crisis in the Niger Delta.” The family did not however mention names of the suspected officials.
Eldest daughter of the activist, Dr. (Mrs) Bolanle Asuni-Limann, in a statement weekend said: “the source of my mother’s recent travails has emanated from top-ranking politicians and government officials that were exposed by her studies on the origin and evolution of cult activities in the Niger Delta region under the PAS programme.”
Asuni, who is a Nigerian/American, is executive director of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Academics Associates Peace (PAS) works, is being tried for alleged espionage by the State Security Service (SSS).
In the statement, which was titled: “Beneficiaries of Niger Delta Crisis behind Judith Asuni’s travails” the family insisted that their mother was innocent of the allegations being levelled against her adding that: “Dr Asuni has devoted close to 20 years of her life to finding solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta and eradication of poverty in Nigeria that her outstanding public service records is evidence of her innocence.”
The statement reads in part: “On September 26, my mother, Dr. Judith Asuni along with two German film makers, was arrested on allegations of espionage. She has remained in detention at the State Security Service headquarters in Abuja since that date.
“She, a Nigerian and American citizen, remains in detention while the two Germans have regained their freedom, on bail and are in the custody of the German Embassy. My mother is a peace activist and has been working to ensure the eradication of poverty in many parts of Nigeria through conflict resolution, management and prevention.
“Due to the outstanding contribution she has made to our country, my mother was made a key partner in the Peace and Security Secretariat (PAS) that was commissioned by Dr. Edmond Daukoru, the then minister of Petroleum Resources and Mr. Funso Kupolokun, the former Group Managing Director of the NNPC in 2004.”
Oct142007