Why I defended MASSOB, Avengers, Asari Dokubo in Courts – Keyamo

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has explained why he represented in Courts Niger Delta militants like Asari Dokubo and groups like the Niger Delta Avengers, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in the past.
He said it was not because he believed in Nigeria’s breakup, but because he believed in the right to self-determination.
Keyamo stated this while speaking on an NTA flagship programme titled, ‘One-on-One’.
He said, “No one can stand before me and tell me about human rights. I have seen everything. I represented almost all separatist groups in this country like MASSOB, Niger Delta Volunteers Force, the Niger Delta Avengers.
“I represented all of them in court. When Asari Dokubo was arrested, when he was calling for a division at that time, I did not support the division, of course, let me be clear. I was only talking about the right to self-determination.”
In January 2003, Keyamo was designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, because of his activities as the leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Future Republic of the Niger Delta.