SERAP, AI Accused of Asking Tinubu to ‘Meddle’ in Judicial Affairs
Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have begged President Bola Tinubu to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN” to withdraw the charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, X [formerly Twitter], over Mr Sowore’s posts on social media platforms calling the President a “criminal.”
SERAP and AI also begged the President to “direct” the Department of State Services DSS) to “immediately stop misusing the judicial processes to silence public criticism and violate Nigerians’ fundamental rights through the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) or similar forms of harassment.”
However, some groups have faulted AI and SERAP, saying it is wrong for groups that claim to champion the course of democracy and justice to beg the president to tamper with a matter that is already before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA said it is dangerous for SERAP and AI to accuse the DSS of “misusing the judicial process,” saying their language paints a wrong picture that the DSS is dictating to the courts. “It is said that both NGOs are encouraging the President, who is the head of the executive arm of government, to meddle in the internal affairs of the judiciary,” noted NEYGA, saying the request by SERAP and AI is capable of undermining democracy.
NEYGA spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Dan-Musa, in a statement he signed, took a swipe at AI and SERAP, saying “both NGOs ought to know better.”
He said, “AI and SERAP ought to know, like we all do, that there are three arms of government. It is a tragedy that the same NGOs that claim to promote the cause of democracy are the same ones trying to undermine it. “When the DSS sued Omoyele Sowore, we joined many in hailing the secret police.
Before now, the DSS would have hounded Sowore in detention. Remarkably, the new DSS leadership chose to embrace the rule of law for which we commend the leadership. “That the DSS decided to turned its back on its previous jackboot stance and decided to tow a new path and test the judicial waters on the legality or otherwise of a citizen calling the President or any other person for that matter a criminal should be commended.
“We are therefore at a loss as to why AI and SERAP, rather than encourage and support Sowore to pursue his counter-suit against the DSS to its end, they are the same groups encouraging the President to illegally interfere with our judiciary,” noted NEYGA.
Another group, Northern Minorities Back Tinubu, expressed disappointment with the position taken by AI and SERAP.
Said the group, in a statement signed by it’s convener, Comrade Jacob Edi, “We are shocked and at the same time disappointed that SERAP and AI, NGOs that ordinarily should be championing the deepeening of democracy, are the same groups working overtime to destroy democracy.
“If the courts do not decide the suit by DSS, we shall never get to know if it is right or wrong to call the president a criminal. Had Peter Obi in 2007 not approached the courts to determine how long the tenure of a governor who came through the courts should be, it is certain we never would have had off cycle guber elections today,” the group declared.If You’re Reading From Phoenix Click On Read Original To Read Full Article
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