November 5, 2007
The espionage case against American-Nigerian peace activist, Judith Asuni, may have finally fallen apart as Saharareporters learnt that the Attorney General and Minister of justice has filed a nolle prosequi before the Federal High Court Abuja trying her. The move is a legal indication of the government's intention to abandon her prosecution.
Asuni and two German documentary film makers were arrested and detained by agents of the State Security Service. The detainees were then charged with espionage, amongst other allegations.
From the outset, many legal experts and political pundits saw her case as a frame up by security agents who felt she was meddling too much and throwing her weight around too much in the Niger Delta area.
In particular, government agents were reportedly riled that Asuni was in possession of documents revealing the big political masterminds of the Niger Delta insurgency as well as names of prominent Nigerians profiteering from illegal oil bunkering in the area.
Sources told Saharareporters that the allegations against Asuni could not stand because the best evidence provided by the SSS were very fickle and circumstantial. For example, the allegation that she was not a Nigerian citizen had collapsed in the face of a certificate of Naturalization issued to her by the Nigerian government. Other charges that hinged on her possession of high level security documents also
fell flat because they were maps that could be freely downloaded over the internet.
As at the time of filing this report, Saharareporters could not reach Asuni's daughter, Bolanle Asuni, to confirm her mother's status or if any conditions were given before the government decided to enter a nolle prosequi.
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