Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN Calls On Buhari To Direct SSS To Respect The Judiciary, Says NBA Must Stand Up For The Judiciary

The Managing Partner of S. P. A. Ajibade & Co, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, FCIArb, has said that the video clips circulating on social media, showing the violent re-arrest of the publisher of SaharaReporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore inside a courtroom at the Federal High Court in Abuja marks a new low in the ongoing assault on the Rule of Law in Nigeria.

Dr. Ajibade, SAN, made this remark following the drama displayed by some armed operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS ) at the courtroom of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

The re-arrest, allegedly by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), was said to have disrupted the proceedings of the court.

He said democracy is about institutions and maintaining checks and balances on the power of the executive and other arms of the government is vital to society.

“The judiciary is the check on the excesses of the executive.

“The action of the DSS is an assault on the judiciary which is the custodian of the Rule of Law in our society.

“The continuous contempt and disdain with which the executive arm of government treats the judiciary is inimical to all known norms of democracy as enshrined in our constitution,” he stated.

Condemning the ugly incident Dr. Ajibade, SAN, said that our law enforcement agencies must learn to operate within the ambit of the law and carry out their functions with the utmost respect to the limits of their statutory mandate.

“They must not erode the gains that we have made as a democratic nation.

“By its actions, the executive continues to undermine the independence of our courts and is, by so doing, inviting a state of anarchy.

“I, therefore, urge Mr. President to direct all security agencies in the country to carry out their duties showing deference and respect for the judiciary.

“Mr. President should ensure that the officers responsible for the desecration of the courts in this ugly incident are punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The rule of law and not that of might is supreme in Nigeria.

“I call on all members of the Nigerian Bar Association to speak and stand up for the judiciary.

“We are the only voice that can stand in defence of the judiciary in this trying times”, he said.