The convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore has spent over 100 days in DSS custody since his arrest on August 3, 2019, in Lagos, ahead of his protest. He was later moved to Abuja where he has been detained by the DSS.
The court ordered the activist to be released to his lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who is to produce him for arraignment whenever he is required. The DSS has on Tuesday also expressed readiness to release the activist through its spokesperson, Mr. Peter Afunanya, but only to his sureties, which is contradicting previous court order.
DSS’ action has prompted dismay nationwide, thereby portraying Nigeria to the international community as undemocratic and adamant to rule of law.
Since a competent court of law has granted him a bail, it’s therefore, unlawful, unconstitutional for the DSS to continue keeping him in their custody and set another layer of verification and decide how and who will collect him. The court must have verified all the sureties and ensured that he met and complied with all his bail terms and conditions before granting him the bail.
Any resistance to obey the court order will only continue to cause reputational discomfort for the country. Any attempt to continue holding a citizen after being released by the court amounts to breaking the rule of law and is tantamount to generating civil unrest and downgrade to various international covenants and treaties, which Nigeria is a signatory.
The DSS should therefore do the needful and operate based on the principle of rule of law. I hereby call on all the well meaning Nigerians and relevant authorities to lend their voices and ensure that justice prevails above all in Nigeria.
Rabiu Musa is an intern with PRNigeria Centre, Kano and can be reached on: [email protected]
