The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned what it described as the reported forceful seizure of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.
Video footage circulating widely, showed DSS operatives overpowering Sowore and forcibly removing him from the court premises shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing of his application for stay of execution of an order revoking his bail.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of the RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma noted that if the reports circulating are accurate, the actions of the DSS represent a brazen affront to the authority of the court, a dangerous violation of due process, and a deeply troubling display of institutional lawlessness.
Describing the courtroom as the very symbol of justice and the rule of law, Nwanguma said for security operatives to allegedly invade such place and seize a litigant contrary to the apparent terms of a court order, amounts to contempt for judicial authority and an attack on constitutional democracy.
“RULAAC is particularly disturbed by reports that Mr. Sowore sustained injuries during the incident. The use of force against a non-violent defendant who voluntarily submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the court raises serious questions about the motive behind the operation. Such conduct bears the hallmarks of vindictiveness and abuse of power rather than lawful law enforcement.
“This incident evokes painful memories of previous episodes in which security agencies openly disregarded court orders and undermined the administration of justice. Nigerians will recall with concern the invasion of court premises by security operatives in past politically sensitive cases. Such conduct damages public confidence in the justice system and reinforces the perception that certain state institutions operate above the law.
“The DSS is a creation of law and derives its authority from the Constitution and statutes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It cannot legitimately claim powers beyond those granted by law, nor can it substitute its judgment for that of a competent court. Where a court has issued a lawful order regarding the custody of a defendant, every agency of government is bound to comply unless and until that order is set aside by a superior court.
“The apparent disregard for the court’s remand order, if confirmed, reflects an increasingly troubling tendency toward executive overreach and intolerance of dissent. Democracy cannot thrive where critics of government are subjected to arbitrary treatment, selective prosecution, intimidation, or extra-legal measures. The criminal justice system must never be weaponized to settle political scores or silence dissenting voices,” he said.
The RULAAC boss called for an immediate explanation from the DSS regarding the legal basis for its actions within the court premises, and a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged forceful removal and injury of Mr. Sowore.
He demanded strict compliance by all security agencies with court orders and constitutional safeguards, calling for accountability for any officials found to have acted unlawfully or in contempt of judicial authority, as well as respect for the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their political views or criticisms of government.
The group urged the Federal Government, the leadership of the DSS, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, and all defenders of constitutional democracy to speak out against any attempt to undermine judicial authority and due process.
“Nigeria’s democratic credentials are measured not by how it treats those who support those in power, but by how it treats those who criticize them. The rule of law requires that state institutions act within the limits of their legal authority and remain subject to judicial oversight.
“No democracy can endure where security agencies become arbiters of judicial decisions. The courtroom must remain a sanctuary of justice, not a theatre of intimidation,” Nwanguma posited.
