Authorities in Gambia have brought charges against a Nigerian human rights worker, Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, after he was arrested on February 22 for allegedly giving false 'information' to a public official.

Mr. Nebolisa Nwakaeme, founder and director of programs for Africa in Democracy and Good Governance( ADG), was for the second time in less than a month, arrested on March 1 and remained in custody until Monday, March 8, when he was brought before a magistrate's court in Kanifing, and charged with 'giving false information to a public official'.

Mr. Nebolisa Nwakaeme refused to take his plea without a legal representation, and was remanded in custody until Wednesday, March 10, when he will reappear in court.

The Nigerian born rights advocate was first arrested on Monday, February 22 and detained at an Immigration post in New Jeshwang, a suburban district of the country's largest city, Serrekunda.

He was held at that post for three days and then released without charges. And on Monday, March 1, Nwakaeme was asked to report to the Serious Crimes Unit  at the police headquarters in Banju. He was immediately put under arrest upon arrival, and remained in detention for seven days.

Our correspondent says police secretly whisked Mr. Nebolisa Nwakaeme to court this morning without informing his colleagues who were trying to get him an attorney.

President Yahya Jammeh had threatened to kill human rights workers in the Gambia if they continued discrediting his government. The threat attracted widespread condemnations from international organizations around the world.