Dutch man stages silent Valletta protest after nine years on bail

A Dutch citizen born in Nigeria is staging a silent protest in Republic Street in Valletta today.

Chukwudi Samuel Onyeabor, who told reporters that he had been working for a betting company at the time of his arrest, has been on bail since 2008 when he had been arrested on his way to Fortina Hotel from the airport. 

Former Assistant Police Commissioner Norbert Ciappara, at the time a police inspector, had charged Chukwudi with conspiracy to sell cocaine in 2008. Denying the charges, Chukwudi claimed to having been in Malta to negotiate the sale of property and that his arrest was illegal.

He remains on bail, nine years on and is asking that the case be resolved. He cannot travel to Holland to see his son, due to his bail conditions, he said.

Chukwudi said he hoped the protest would reignite interest in his case and bring attention to what he termed the "nine years of bullying" at the hands of the authorities.

A previous version of this article stated that Mr. Onyeabor was charged with possession of cocaine. The error is regretted.