National Assembly urged to probe sponsored protest against Sowore, Falana
The National Assembly has been asked to probe the Thursday protest supporting the continuous detention of Sahara Reporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore by a spook civil society groups.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA) urged the National Assembly to uncover the identity of the protesters since the protest may have been sponsored with public funds. It said the protest was an act of corruption when young people are being lured to earn a living by subverting the principles of democracy.
“This is another case of misuse of public funds and corruption. How much of funds were given to the protesters and where did the resources come from? The organisers of the protest which called itself Save Nigeria Movement must have been sponsored by anti-democracy forces. This in itself is a threat to democracy”, the statement signed HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju stated.
HEDA stated further “This is a dangerous trend in the history of Nigeria for a group to be protesting against the enforcement of the ruling of a Federal Court asking the Department of State Security Services, (DSS) to release the detained activists. It is a very bad precedence that youths are being offered money to subvert the fundamental pillars of democracy”, the statement signed by HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju stated. He described the protesters as ‘fascists’ who have no shame.
“The Department for State Security, (DSS) should be held responsible for the sponsored rally organized by an unknown ‘civil society’ which claimed it was protesting in support of the detention of SaharaReporters Publisher, Mr Omoyeye Sowore and Mr. Falana (SAN). Many of in the corridors of power are ignorant of the sacrifices of the likes of Omoyele Sowore and Femi Falana (SAN) for the democracy to attempt to jeopardise.”
HEDA said the DSS was twisting a Federal Court judgement which ordered that Saharareporters Publisher, Mr Omoyele Stephen Sowore be released from its custody, based on the conditions imposed by the Court and not any extraneous condition by DSS.
The foremost anti-corruption group said the Federal High Court judgment of November 6, 2019 expressly ordered that Mr Sowore and Bakare be released from the DSS custody, adding that the DSS has been keeping Sowore in defiance of a subsisting court order, using ridiculous and shameful excuses below the expectation of a civilised country.
“Disobedience of court order is the worst thing that can happen to democracy. The action of the DSS has diminished the confidence of Nigerians in the democratic process. The danger is the threat of the DSS to the Judiciary. The signal is for Nigerians lose confidence in the judiciary. What this government is telling the people is that they cannot obtain justice within the legal framework, as provided by the Nigerian constitution, if the DSS is involved. The consequence is a society where people will resort to self-help in seeking for justice. This will only heighten violence and chaos in the country.” Suraju stated.
HEDA said keeping Sowore behind the bars is a blatant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic and a clear assault on the judiciary, adding that the action of the DSS has continued to cast doubts on the image of Nigeria in the international community.
HEDA calls for the immediate release of “Prisoner of Conscience – Sowore” and the use of miscreants to intimidate, harass and threaten Mr. Falana (SAN). The DSS is obviously failing in proving the allegation of treason leveled against him and his soul mates.
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