Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has raised an alarm over the arrest of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, in neighbouring Cotonou, Benin Republic, by the country’s police.

Keyamo said in a statement on Tuesday that Dokubo was picked up around the Lubeleyi roundabout between the hours of 1:00pm and 2:00pm and was 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. All these places have been searched as at this evening and nothing incriminating was found,” he said in the statementd.

He expressed worry that the arrest and detention may be part of a ploy by “certain forces in Nigeria in unholy alliance with the Beninoise government” to keep him away as 2015 approaches.

Keyamo therefore called on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that Dokubo is released and returned back to Nigeria unharmed within the shortest time using all diplomatic means possible.

Asari, a ex militant and a strong supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 reelection bid, has in recent times issues several threats of Nigeria falling apart if his candidate is not returned for a second term.

Although the reason for his arrest is yet to be made public, some analysts believe it may be connected with his new soccer academy which he launched only two months ago in the West African country.

The university, which will be known as King Amachree African University, KAAU, has already been accredited to commence degree programmes beginning September 2014.