LAGOS—The Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, yesterday, gave the Federal Government, through the National
Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police, a 30-day ultimatum to
thoroughly investigate the bombing of the Rivers State High Court premises in
Ahoada and Okehi.
Similarly, former President of
the association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, supported the position of the NBA,
saying that “it is high time the issue of threat and terrorism is controlled
and curbed. I fully endorse the decision of the NBA.”
Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, on his
part, said: “It is obvious that the people behind this are not just desperate,
but they are also fascists, who have no respect for human lives and due
process. They want to intimidate the people, their political opposition
turn them to onlookers, so that they can do whatever they want with our lives.
They have gone further to also intimidate the judiciary, the third arm of
government. For me, it is the height of irresponsibility. So, let them look for
them (perpetrators) so that they can face justice.”
Another Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome also threw his weight behind the decision of NBA.
He expressed concern over the fact that politics has assumed a dangerous and
murderous dimension in the
country, culminating in the bombing of a court.
Also, United Progressive Party,
UPP and Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, faulted the bombing of the courts in
Rivers State.
On his part, Senator Magnus Abe,
representing Rivers South East senatorial district, described the security
situation in the state as near anarchy.
Issuing the ultimatum through a
statement signed by its President, Mr Okey Wali, SAN, the NBA said: “We
condemn these acts of brigandage and view them not only as sacrilegious, but also
as a desecration of the temple of justice. On no account, will we ever, idly
stand by and watch these acts of violence and impunity to our courts, which are
tantamount to an affront to the rule of law and threat to our democracy.
“This underscores the need for
government to take the security of lives and property more seriously. The
lackadaisical attitude accorded to the security of our courts nationwide, is
now brought to the fore. The need to secure the premises of the hallowed courts
of justice across the nation should be taken more seriously.”
NBA called on the National
Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police to employ all security
apparatuses at their disposal, to unearth the culprits and bring them to
Justice, adding “we will not and cannot, be satisfied with the usual mantra of,
‘the Police investigation is continuing.’ We demand an immediate and thorough
investigation and expect a report, even if, interim, within 30 days of the date
of the incidents. Attacks on our courts will not be swept under the carpet.”
It’s dangerous —Ozekhome
Ozekhome said: “My worry is that
politics in Nigeria is now assuming a dangerous and murderous dimension as
never before seen in Nigeria.
“And to carry this politicking
to the secred chambers of the court of law is introducing a totally novel
dimension calculated to intimidate the judiciary and its personnel. He added
that if the matter was treated with kid gloves, Nigeria may never recover from
such a macabre of dance of death.
He called on the Police to immediately
swing into action and unearth the perpetrators of the heinous crime against
Nigeria. “I support the NBA in its decision of issuing an ultimatum to the
relevant security authorities to arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them.”
Meanwhile, the Godspower Ake
faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State has also condemned the
fire incident at the state High Court in Okehi on Monday, saying that the
development would, however, not affect the ruling of an Appeal Court in Abuja
on the authentic leadership of the party in the state by January 15.
Publicity Secretary of the
party, Mr George Nwogba, in a statement accused the Felix Obuah faction of the
party of being behind the incident, adding that they would have disrupted the
ongoing court processes if they had set fire on documents at the Court of
Appeal.
PDM in Rivers State on its part,
described the development as a threat to democracy. The movement in a statement
by its state Chairman, Mr George Ngbor, warned the political class in the state
not to plunge the state into crisis.
He said: “The current
crisis rocking the state if not checked is capable of snowballing into an
undesirable situation for indigenes and residents of the state.
Politicians in the state should shun politics of bitterness.”
He added that it was not true that its members in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state had defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, maintaining that they were intact.
He added that it was not true that its members in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state had defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, maintaining that they were intact.
United Progressive Party, UPP on
its part, said that the bombing was judicial terrorism, arson and reckless
action aimed at intimidating judicial officers in Nigeria.
Condemning the attack by yet to
be identified persons in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr.
Ogbuche Dike, the party charged security agents to act quickly to meet
expectation of Nigerians as security of lives and property were the primary
purpose of government.
The party said the judiciary was
the last hope of all aggrieved people, adding that any attempt to harass,
subdue and influence esteemed Justices of the court to pervert justice shall be
resisted by all lovers of democracy, due process and rule of law.
He said: “It is outrageous
that some disgruntled elements should bomb the Rivers State High Court in
Ahoada East Local Government Area, vandalise and set ablaze files and vital
documents for adjudication at the state High Court Okehi, in Etche Local
Government Area. It is absurd that these primitive actions could be taken in
Nigeria at 100 years of existence.
“It is unfortunate that our
beloved country is gradually sliding into a state of lawlessness fuelled by
insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism. Security
agents should wake up and live up to expectation as security of lives and
property is the primary purpose of government.
“The perpetrators of the recent
Rivers State courts bombings should be fished out and punished in accordance
with the laws of the land to serve as a deterrent to others who might
contemplate such heinous crimes,” the party added.
The Ake-led PDP in Rivers State,
continuing, said: “Afraid that justice would soon slap them in the face over
their treacherous, deceitful and false claims to the offices of the Chairman
and Secretary of PDP in Rivers State, the other faction resorted to their
latest option just to hold on to power no matter how illegitimate. We would
prefer they allowed the Appeal Court decide their fate rather than engage in
self-help of this magnitude, obviously couched in shame and opprobrium.
Near anarchy in Rivers — Abe
On his part, Senator Magnus Abe,
representing Rivers South East senatorial district, described the security
situation in the state as near anarchy and a total disobedience of the
constitution of the country.
He noted with dismay that the
foundation of ensuring peace in the state was being flagrantly abused by the
police, contrary to the constitutional provision that makes the governor the
Chief Security Officer where the state Commissioner of Police takes lawful
directives from the governor.
“What is happening in the state
is that some people are undermining the constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. The constitution clearly provides that the governor shall be the Chief
Security Officer of a state and that the Commissioner of Police should take
lawful directives from the governor.
“Once you destroy that
foundation for the security of a state, you have nothing but near anarchy and
that is what we are now witnessing in River State,” he said.
VANGUARD
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