NIGERIA- Mujahid Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant, was reportedly arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, yesterday afternoon by the Beniniose police.

In a statement signed by Mr. Asari-Dokubo’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, the former militant who also own a private university in Benin Republic, was arrested between 1and 2 p.m around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to an unknown destination.

 “We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now. In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country,” a statement by Mr. Keyamo read.

The legal practitioner also explained that Dokubo-Asari’s detention is politically flavoured, saying they want to use that to keep him away as the 2015 general elections approaches. He then pleaded with the Nigerian government to immediately intervene by using diplomatic means to secure his immediate release.

Mr. Dokubo-Asari owns a football club, automobile academies and real estates in Benin Republic. Last October he announced he has established a private university in the country named King Amachree African University. The university plans to commence academic activities next September.

According to the statement released by his lawyer, all his business interests have been searched since he was picked up this afternoon with “nothing incriminating found.”