EditorialTHEWILL Editorial: Dasuki, Kanu’s Trial: Buhari Must Respect Rule of Law

THEWILL Editorial: Dasuki, Kanu’s Trial: Buhari Must Respect Rule of Law

BEVERLY HILLS, November 28, (THEWILL) – Despite court rulings that former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and operator of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, be granted temporary reprieve, the Department of State Services (DSS) has continued to incarcerate them.

Dasuki is standing trial for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering of over $2billion. The Federal Government had earlier set up a committee to audit procurement of arms from 2007 to date, which reportedly indicted Dasuki. However, on November 3, 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court ruled that Dasuki be granted bail to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

In disregard for rule of law, the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri, sought and obtained revocation of the bail, hinging his action on the need to prevent Dasuki from escaping on-going investigations and also in obedience to the presidential order that the former NSA be arrested.

Glo

The charges against Kanu, who is also leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), border on terrorism and terrorism financing. A Magistrate Court, sitting in Abuja, had on October 19, 23 and 26 respectively, ordered that Kanu be released on bail, produced in court and transferred to prison. But the DSS refused to grant these orders. On the contrary, it obtained an ex-parte order from a Federal High Court, Abuja and presided over by Justice Alfa Ademola, to continue to detain him.

This brazen disregard for the rule of law is unacceptable to us. Interestingly, it has attracted condemnations from across the nation. President Muhammadu Buhari has shown by his actions, that he has no regard for the rule of law. While we do not encourage a breakdown of law and order, his actions cast aspersions on our democratic governance. We believe in the axiom that democracy thrives under the rule of law and that no democratic government should pride itself above the law.

In professing to be a democrat, Buhari, had while hosting a delegation from FourSquare Gospel Church recently, acknowledged that there was a difference between dictatorship and democracy.

According to him, “Under military rule, people could be arrested and held on the basis of suspicion, but in a true democracy, any one accused of an offence must be presumed innocent till pronounced guilty by a court of law.” But the sustained detention of Dasuki and Kanu runs contrary to the president’s stance.

Under a democratic setting, government is accountable to the people in the exercise of its powers. President Buhari should therefore act within the orbit of the law, because any contrary action would mean sliding back to the dark days of military dictatorship and draconian rule.

We therefore condemn this brazen disregard for the rule of law.

While we fully support the prosecution of lawbreakers, no matter their status, we believe that it should be done in accordance with the law. We join the call for government to obey subsisting court orders, as against the use of frivolous and counter court orders, including executive intimidation, as demonstrated by the current culture of impunity, which portends great danger on our polity.

About the Author

Homepage | Recent Posts

More like this
Related

Easter: Tinubu Felicitates With Christians, Says Nigeria Will Triumph Over Challenges

March 29, (THEWILL) - President Bola Tinubu has...

Ankle Setback Sidelines Murray From Monte Carlo, Munich Tournaments

March 29, (THEWILL) - British tennis star, Andy...

Third Mainland Bridge To Fully Open In Seven Days – FG

March 29, (THEWILL) - The Federal Government, through...