MEMBERS of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), led by their former president, Prince Jide Kosoko, have called for the immediate release of the ace comedian, Babatunde Omidina, a.k.a. Baba Suwe, who is currently being held by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He said Baba Suwe had been made to go through public humiliation, adding that what had been done to him was unjust punishment for an innocent man.

Present at the conference were Gbenga Adewusi, a.k.a. Bayowa; Monsuru Oba-dina, Bukky Wright, Afusat Balogun a.k.a. Madam Saje, Sokoti, Kola Olaiya, Alabi Yellow and others.

Also, the president-elect of the association, Mr Dele Odule, has decried the attitude of NDLEA on Baba Suwe, describing it as a violation of his fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, the family of the ace comedian has hired the services of a Lagos lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, over his continued detention in NDLEA custody.

The lawyer had also written a letter to the Director-General of the agency, Mr Femi Ajayi, demanding his unconditional release.

The family gave the NDLEA a seven-day ultimatum to tender apology in three national dailies circulating all over Nigeria, while also demanding that Baba Suwe be paid N1 billion as compensation for the damage that the arrest and detention had done to his person and reputation while in the custody.

In another development, two suspected drug traffickers have been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, gave the names of the suspects as Ezeanochie Oliver Ndodi, 32, enroute Emirate flight to Malaysia and Amoo Tolase Duro-woju, 27, who was to board Air France to Dublin on October 12.

According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mitchelle Ofo-yeju, both suspects would be charged to court soon.