The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education has condemned an attack on activist Olanrewaju Suraju and his wife.

Five armed assailants had reportedly broken into the home of Mr Suraju, an anti-corruption activist, beaten him and his wife before carting away their valuables such as phones, laptops and a car.

CHRICED through its executive director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said it found it odd that only Mr Suraju’s home was invaded in an estate with over 200 apartments, especially after the activist indicted former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, in the Malabu scandal.

“The attack is coming on the heels of the malicious prosecution and harassment of Mr. Suraju’s for opening the can of worms over the Malabu deal, which named former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, as a beneficiary,” said Mr Zikirullahi in a signed statement.

He said “the attack highlights the level of threat that anti-corruption activists face, as well as the lengths to which desperate elements will go to silence those who muster the courage to demand accountability, particularly in the use of public resources.” 

The CHRICED director urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice to serve as deterrents to others who might be nursing the idea of using hoodlums to attack whistleblowers.

It noted that “if such criminal acts go unchallenged and uninvestigated, the perpetrators would certainly become more emboldened and will continue to target innocent citizens.”

Mr Zikirullahi further urged Mr Suraju not to give in to the intimidation tactics of corrupt government office holders trying to silence him.