#FreeAudu: Nigerians protest arrest of Chocolate City boss, Audu Maikori, over Southern Kaduna comments

Many Nigerians have knocked Nigerian government over the arrest of founder of Chocolate City Entertainment, Audu Maikori, by the police on Friday.

The arrest is believed to be linked to his tweets about a fatal attack by Fulani herdsmen in Southern Kaduna that turned out to be false, his lawyer said Friday.

Mark Jacobs told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Maikori, 41, was arrested in Lagos around noon Friday by a team of police officers attached to inspector-general monitoring and intelligence team and was immediately transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“I arrived at the Force Headquarters and learnt that a detention order has already been signed for him,” Mr. Jacobs said of his client. “I am not sure he will be released tonight.”

Jacobs added that he was told by the police that a magistrate issued warrant for Maikori’s arrest and are planning to charge him with attempt to “incite” the public.

In a series of tweets on January 23, Maikori said his driver, later identified as Simon Joseph, told him that he lost his brother in a Fulani herdsmen ambush in Southern Kaduna and will be travelling for burial.

His graphic description of what turned out to be false and indictment of the government was widely reported by the media.

He later deleted the tweets and apologised to the government and all those offended by his account when he found out that the information he had was false.

Rapper and CEO of Chocolate Music, M.I Abaga, was one of the first to raise an alarm about Maikori’s arrest on Friday, accusing the government of denying his friend his right to freedom of speech.

I voted for freedom of speech.. why is @Audu being denied it #FreeAudu cc @amnestyusa @BBCWorld @SaharaReporters @cnni

— Yung denzL (@MI_Abaga) February 17, 2017

Our civil rights must not be encroached!! @audu has been detained in Abuja right now.. #freeAudu @bellanaija @lindaikeji

— Yung denzL (@MI_Abaga) February 17, 2017

Please help us tweet the hashtag till @Audu is free.. @Omojuwa @Iceprincezamani @official2baba @Jessejagz @Femiakuti @seunkuti

— Yung denzL (@MI_Abaga) February 17, 2017

That soon snowballed into a flame of condemnation by other celebrities and fans who are demanding immediate release of the 1999 University of Jos law graduate.

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” [Special Message to the Congress on the Internal Security of the United States, August 8, 1950] #freeaudu

A post shared by Ayo Makun (@aycomedian) on Feb 17, 2017 at 4:50pm PST

Dear Nigeria…… #FreeAudu — Strategic planning is the major key for progress and development… but My dear Nation is hell bent on free-styling everything including freedom of speech and human rights! #FreeAudu

A post shared by Man Like Lynxxx (@its_lynxxx) on Feb 17, 2017 at 4:20pm PST

#FreeAudu ?

A post shared by DJ Lambo (@djlambo_) on Feb 17, 2017 at 2:39pm PST

I don’t understand this and I don’t want to believe it! When has speaking your mind become a crime? If Audu has indeed been incarcerated let’s not just post pictures let’s do something

A post shared by Bimbo Akintola (@bimboakintola) on Feb 17, 2017 at 3:21pm PST

#freeAudu – Let’s be honest.. His tweets about the #SouthernKaduna killings aren’t the problem. THE KILLINGS ARE!!! #freeAuduMaikori

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) February 17, 2017

#FreeAudu Maikori. He is not your problem.

— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) February 17, 2017

Father Lord please protect @Audu. Let no harm come to him. Be an ever present help in this time of need! #FreeAudu #FreeAudu #FreeAudu

— Kate Henshaw (@HenshawKate) February 18, 2017

This Can Only Happen Under PMB, Under PMB In KD State: Under Tyrant @elrufai Where Killers Are Paid Citizens Are Arrested. #FreeAudu ? pic.twitter.com/SqZbkJFmgt

— PDP Vanguard (@PDPVanguard) February 17, 2017

In a country where an entire Air Force mistakenly bombed an IDP camp and no one was arrested but Audu Maikori is the threat

— Imoh Umoren (@ImohUmoren) February 17, 2017

Let’s be clear. Audu Maikori already apologised for those tweets,why is he arrested by the DSS again? Tackle the real problem; the herdsmen!

— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) February 17, 2017