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80 days in detention, a Kaduna based US Epoch times’ reporter To Appear In Court After Arrest

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80 days in detention, a Kaduna based US Epoch times’ reporter To Appear In Court After Arrest

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Mr Luka Biniyat, a reporter freelancing with Epoch Times, a United States of America News organization based in Kaduna North West Nigeria is to appear in court after eighty days in detention police have arrested him.

Luka’s unlawful arrest received International out cry with civil organization, colleagues, Family, friends and experts in the judiciary system in Nigeria condemned his detention in prison.

The arrest of Biniyat was reported since November 4, 2021 in Kaduna linking him with a story published in Epoch times involving the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs of Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan who alleged it defamed his person.

Luka was arrested by the police, detained in different facilities before he was finally taken to a Barnawa Kaduna Magistrate Court where his alleged crimes were not entertained.

Like a condemned criminal, the seasoned Journalist was subsequently taken to Nigeria’s convict prison in Kaduna, a facility built in 1915 with a capacity to house 547 inmates but now accommodates over 1000.

Luka who is also the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) is getting an unfair treatment by the Nigerian legal system.

Called to President Joe Binden by US organization like Christian solidarity International (CSI), SOKAPU and other socio-cultural and political pressure groups in Nigeria like SaMBA have also asked the Kaduna State government to release Binniyat.

“Luka Binniyat’s court hearing is coming up on Monday, 24th January, 2022 at the Federal High Court Kawo by 9am,” an official of SOKAPU said.

“His appearance at the High court on Monday would be his first appearance in a court that has a jurisdiction over the charges leveled against him by the commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan,” SOKAPU’s PRO2, Tep-rick Emmanuel Nikyu said while calling on well wishers to witness the hearing.

The wife of Mr Luka Binniyat, Gladys Binniyat had earlier on the 7 January, 2022 raised the alarm that the health of her husband is deteriorating and can’t walk in the Prison facility.

Also, Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) had raised an alarm over Binniyat’s safety.

Even though windows to secure Binniyat’s bail were closed, his wife Gladys said she is not satisfied with the treatment given to her husband at the prison clinic.

According to her, the authorities should take her husband to a better medical facility.

Gladys said: ”He called me on Tuesday saying that his legs are giving him issues. He said they were swollen and he could not walk.

“He was rushed to the prison clinic in a wheelchair. They just bandaged his legs and he gave them money to buy drugs which he used.

“They took him back to the cell, before they attended to him. I don’t have confidence in the treatment they gave to him. He complained of pains at around 7 am and you gave him treatment by 6pm. If it is something that would have killed him that was how they would have left him to die,” she said.

According to Gladys, “I saw him this morning. His legs are still swollen and can’t walk. I want them to release my husband for me so that he can be taken care of.

“I am not sure of the kind of drugs given to him, I don’t trust them. I want him to be taken to a good medical facility for proper checkup and treatment, ” she said.