The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, says it is outraged by the invasion of an Abuja Federal High Court, by personnel of the Directorate of State Security, DSS.
The DSS had invaded the Court on Friday to arrest Omoleye Sowore, a Presidential Candidate in the 2019 election, and the Convener of #RevolutionNow after 125 days in captivity. The DSS had arrested him for calling out Nigerians to protest the state of the Nation
The DSS which had disobeyed Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu’s order to release him on bail, on at least, three occasions, finally, did so on Thursday after the Judge threatened the Agency with consequences, and gave them 24 hours to do so.
24 hours after the release, the DSS stormed Ojukwu’s Court to re-arrest Sowore and and his co- defendant, Olawale Bakare. They disrupted Court processes, and sent Justice Ojukwu and several others, including Counsels, scampering to safety. Several people in Court, rallied round, fought them off, and protected Sowore. However, his Counsel, Femi Falana, in the middle of the face-off opted to drive Sowore to the DSS headquarters where he and Bakare are currently in detention again.
In its reaction, the NBA, in a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun, among other things, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the DG of the DSS from office, for what it called the desecration of the Court. It, also, called out Nigerians to rise in anger and defend democracy and the country.
Following is NBA’s statement , entitled:
Desecration And Assault On The Federal High Court By DSS:NBA Urged All Nigerians To Defend The Rule Of Law
The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly dismayed at the exhibition of primitivity, thuggery, insane passion for lawlessness, contempt and disrespect for the rule of law by the agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the precints of the Federal High Court, Abuja while attempting to re-arrest Citizens Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare earlier today. Eventually Sowore and Bakare were re-arrested by the DSS inspite of being on bail granted by the Federal High Court.
The NBA has been properly briefed – beyond the shameful videos of the incident in public domain- by our members who witnessed the disgraceful and crass violation of the hallowed precincts of the law by the officers of the Department of State Services, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The NBA finds it disgraceful that this ‘court riot’ occasioned by the high handedness and insensitivity of the security operatives interrupted judicial proceedings and made the Presiding Judge to abandon judicial proceedings because of safety concerns.
The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the action of the Department of State Security, which is another in the series of impunity and lawlessness exhibited by the DSS. The invasion of the court by the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria runs contrary to the avowed assurances of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he will ensure that the Federal Government and agencies under it obeys court orders. The disrespect of the court by the DSS is legendary and unrivalled.
Few days ago, the officers of the Nigerian Police Force exhibited similar traits when it also invaded the precincts of the High Court, Effurun, to arrest Mr. Ademi-Akpeto, Chairman of Sapele branch of the NBA. Many Nigerians are still in unlawful custody and not charged to court. Nigerians are now under siege by security agents who have no regards for the law and the courts.
The NBA urges all Nigerians to be alive to their responsibilities as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is ready to partner with all Nigerians and civil society organisations to ensure that the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended are not trampled upon by by any agency of government. The NBA therefore, demands as follows:
- That the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly immediately investigate the shameful conduct by the DSS and ensure that all persons found culpable are duly punished in accordance with the law.
- The immediate suspension of the Director General of the Department of State Security from office. We make this demand bearing in mind the fact that the DSS under his leadership has established itself as a brutish and irresponsible agency that derives immense pleasure from violating the fundamental rights of Nigerians and disrespecting court orders.
- That the National Assembly should review the laws setting up the DSS and indeed all security agencies in Nigeria with a view to repositioning them to be more responsible and responsive to the public.
- That the Attorney General of the Federation, being the Chief Law officer of the Federation takes over all the political cases or cases involving politically exposed persons presently handled by the DSS.
The above demands of the NBA is without prejuduce to the consultations presently going on amongst critical stakeholders in the legal profession and the judiciary on how best to ensure that this sad incident does not re-occur.
NBA thanks all lawyers and Nigerians who have expressed displeasure over this sad incident. NBA shall keep lawyers and Nigerians alike informed of our further engagements with critical stakeholders.
Kunle Edun
National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association
