Sowore: stop making mockery of democracy, judiciary, Kalejaiye cautions DSS
Akin Olayemi
Following alleged invasion of the courtroom by officials of the Department of State Security Service in Abuja on Friday to rearrest Sahara reporters publisher and former presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, Omoyele Sowore who is standing trial for treasonable felony, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has described the invasion as unlawful, undemocratic and a mockery of the country’s judicial system.
According to Kalejaiye,since the court has granted bail to Sowore, the Department of State Security Service which is an agency of the executive arm has no power to either disobey or flaunt court orders to the point of creating confusion in the courtroom.
He said, “The drama that unfolded in court on Friday is a mockery of our democracy and an attestation to the highhandedness of the executive arm of government.
There is no justification for the DSS operatives to manhandle Sowore after the court has granted him bail. They should not sell Nigeria out to the world as a lawless society. If truly the man has a case to answer, they should allow the law take its course and not subject innocent citizen to torture and ridicule all in the name of protecting the interest of the country.”
Stressing the need for all the arms of government to work harmoniously for the progress of the country, Kalejaiye said it is unpatriotic for any arm of the government to jeopardise efforts of President Muhammmadu Buhari in nation building and laundering the image of the country to the outside world.
He said, “Nigeria under Buhari is improving in terms of foreign investment and bilateral relations, but the persistent harassment of innocent Nigerians and disobedience of court order could send a wrong signal to the world.
The attitude of DSS operatives is unbecoming. It seems they are above the law. What plays out in Sowore’s case happened during Col. Sambo Dasuki and Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky. We are not under a military rule.
We are in a democracy and DSS should stop playing god and acting like a maximum ruler.
I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the DSS to do the needful and heed court orders because whatever they do will rob off on the presidency and the entire country. The world is watching.
If Sowore has a case to answer, they should allow the court to decide and it is not for the DSS to assume the position of a judge and be subjecting him to ridicule and disgrace. He has his right to freedom as granted by the constitution and until he is proven guilty, he should be accorded his basic fundamental human rights.”
Views: 0
