International human rights lawyer Bol Gabriel Diing has condemned the National Security Service (NSS) for the recent detention of former Juba Mayor Kalisto Ladu.
Ladu was released from custody on Friday, following a detention that drew significant scrutiny from legal and human rights circles.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Diing described Ladu’s arrest and subsequent release without formal charges a breach of several fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial.
“Both the Constitution and National Security Service Act require that a suspect be presented before a competent court within 24 hours of arrest. The arrest of the former Mayor of Juba City Council violates many fundamental rights, including a fair trial in a competent court. The arrest was nothing but a designed intimidation to silence citizens,” Diing stated.
Section 54(2) of the National Security Service Act states that: “Any person arrested under the provision of this section shall, whether or not the Service inquiries are completed, be brought before a magistrate as soon as is reasonably practicable within 24 hours.”
Ladu was forcibly removed from his Juba home by NSS operatives on March 30 in full view of his family. Since then, he had been held incommunicado.
The Managing Partner at M/S Pan African Law Chambers, LLP, and Ladu’s lawyer, Wani Santino Jada, confirmed the release but withheld further details.
The case garnered additional scrutiny following Vice-President for Economic Cluster, Dr James Wani Igga’s earlier announcement that Ladu faced severe criminal charges, including several capital offences.
Ladu, known for his opposition to land grabbing in Juba, had been a prominent critic of government practices, leading many to view his arrest as a politically motivated move intended to silence dissent.
Compounding the issue, the NSS law, enacted on July 3, 2024, grants the agency extensive arrest powers without a warrant. This new legislation has raised alarm among human rights advocates who fear it could lead to further abuses and a deterioration of legal protections.
Although Ladu’s release brings to an end a contentious detention, the legality of his arrest and the nature of the charges against him remain subjects of intense debate. Public and human rights organizations were calling for increased transparency and adherence to legal standards to prevent future violations.