Leo Igwe leads the Nigerian Humanist Movement. He is representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) in West Africa and director of Centre for Inquiry in Nigeria. Below follows a message from his brother, Uche, alleging that Leo has been falsely accused of murder.

At about 7.30 am this morning a team of armed police men arrested Mr Leo Igwe humanist leader and his father and whisked them away to Zone 9 police AIG office in Umuahia. The police team was led by Dr Edward Uwa the university leacturer who raped a ten year old student Miss Daberechi Anongam.They were accompanied by Mr Ethelbert Ugwu a millionaire and financier of Dr Uwa.

About three years ago,Dr Uwa invited Ms Daberechi Anongam to do some house chores for him and forced her to bed,covering her mouth and raped her. She sustained several injuries in her private part. Leo Igwe and his family members led an intensive campaign for justice for Ms Daberechi. After a lot of intrigues,the police now started a prosecution on the matter at Ahiazu magistrate court Imo State.

Since then,Leo Igwe and his family have known no peace as several pettitions have been witten against them to intimidate them to submission and to abandon the struggle for justice. This latest one,they have been accused them of mudering an idividual who doctors provided a death certificate saying the man died of HIV and AIDS complication.

Leo and his father risk being tortured or murdered in police custody for his role seeking for justice for Ms Daberechi whose parents are very poor and cannot afford two meals in a day not to talk about paying legal charges.

We need to call the Police authorities in Nigeria about the risk of additional international outrage now that this fertile ground of religious bigotry and suppression of justice and human rights has already misled a citizen of ours to suicide in the name of God!

The numbers to call are : AIG Ringin: +2348033225349

PPRO Umuahia: +2347030988278

Com Aloy Okoro: +2348037217361

I am monitoring the situation closely and will report back. But anyone who is able to call will be helpful to scale up the pressure.

Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta!

Regards

Uche Igwe

Further updates at: http://www.thinkhumanism.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3894

Also see: http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/2010/01/leo-igwe-arrested-in-nigeria.html

Leo has previously been attacked by witch-hunters and then sued by the church behind the attacks.