Invading The Courtroom To Re-arrest Sowore Is An Attack On The Rule Of Law – SERAP

Posted by: Folamidavid in News, Politics Dec 6, 2019

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has blasted the violent re-arrest of Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare by officials of the Department of State Security Service in the court today.

According to SERAP, there was clear harassment and intimidation of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu with that act.

Amidst the rearrest, Judge Ijeoma reportedly had to take cover. She had earlier instructed the DSS to free within 24 hours and also give him N100,000 for improper legal conduct.

However, after celebrations yesterday, Sowore was re-arrested by the same people who freed him.

Reacting, SERAP shared, “The appalling invasion of the courtroom and the ill-treatment of Sowore and Bakare is a blatant attack on the rule of law and the sanctity and integrity of our justice system. An independent judiciary, free from intimidation and harassment is a basic precondition to a functioning democracy under the rule of law.

“The violent re-arrest of Sowore and Bakare right inside the courtroom is a textbook case of a mockery of justice and abuse of the judicial process. It drives home the failure of the Nigerian government to fulfill its constitutional and international human rights obligations to respect citizens’ human rights and observe the rule of law.”

“What happened in the courtroom is a fatal blow to human rights and the independence and integrity of the judiciary. SERAP is seriously concerned that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari is not observing fundamental international human rights and due process standards. READ ALSO: Just in: DSS attempts to rearrest Sowore

“We urge the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sowore and Bakare and end the fragrant attack on the rule of law.

“If Nigerian authorities are serious about human rights and the rule of law, they should hold those responsible to account. Only then will Nigerians have full confidence in this government’s ability to protect their human rights, obey the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”

“The United Nations Human Rights Council, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and members of the international community should urgently put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to end serious violations and abuses of human rights and threats to the rule of law in Nigeria.”