Dasuki, Sowore’s Release: Strip Malami of His SAN Title, HURIWA Urges NBA

Dasuki, Sowore’s Release: Strip Malami of His SAN Title, HURIWA Urges NBA

POLITICS DIGEST – A pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called the Nigerian Bar Association to strip the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami the title of Senior Advocate, saying he has brought shame and global opprobrium to Nigeria.

HURIWA’s call came following the release of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore on Tuesday.

In a statement by National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said: “We ask these illegally detained Nigerians to also pursue claims running into at least N10 billion each for the grave violations of their civil liberties by the current administration. It is a shame that we have a near-incompetent Chief Justice of Nigeria who has remained silent while the judiciary is ridiculed by the lawless executive arm of government.”

It added: “The rebuilding process of the battered judiciary may take years to be completed, given the extent of demolition of the independence and the integrity of the judiciary and the court system by the current government that lacks respect for the constitutionally guaranteed principles of separation of powers.”

Explaining why Sowore and Dasuki would be released, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami in a statement yesterday said: “My office has chosen to comply with the court orders while considering the pursuit of its rights of appeal and/or review of the order relating to the bail as granted or varied by the courts.

“In line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and in compliance with the bail granted to Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) (as recently varied by the Court of Appeal) and the bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, I have directed the State Security Services to comply with the order granting bail to the defendants and effect their release.

“The two defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land.

“I wish to reiterate again the utmost regard of my office for the entire judicial structure of Nigeria. This administration remains unrelenting in deepening the rule of law and the administration of justice in general.”

He added: “Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the complainant/prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court, having regard to extant legal provisions, particularly Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”