Niger: Opposition leader's doctor arrested for misinformation

The doctor of detained Niger opposition leader Hama Hamadou has been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about his health.

Opposition leaders and sympathisers of Hama Hamadou have criticised the arrest of Dr Harouna Yacouba as an act of intimidation before the second round of the presidential election on Sunday.

URGENT #Niger: Doctor of Opposition candidate Hama Amadou has just been arrested by Police .. (this is crazy! https://t.co/dhzd43nwi7

— Barmou Salifou (@BarmouSalif) March 15, 2016

The opposition say all efforts to ensure the release of Hama Hamadou for the presidential run-off campaign have been futile.

“Measures are being taken at the Filingué district hospital to totally isolate the patient by separating him from his personal doctor who has been arrested. Hama Hamadou is deprived of any assistance. His family is not allowed to visit him,” Ousseini Salatou, spokesman of the Coalition for Change(COPA) told reporters.

Government spokesman Marou Amadou said authorities are concerned about Hamadou’s health and are considering other options for treatment.

“The chronic illness of Hama Hamadou has been going on for three years. He should be evacuated to a specialised centre. The president has instructed that a medical aircraft should carry him to the treatment centre,” Marou Amadou said.

The bail request from Hama Hamadou’s lawyers will be examined on March 28. The opposition leader is prosecuted for his alleged role in a child trafficking ring .