The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has challenged a human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, to appear before the court if he feels that the charges filed against him by the state are bogus.
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El-Rufai said this in reaction to a tweet by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) calling on him to drop the charges he filed against Prof. Chidi for being “bogus” and a pretext targeted at critics
“BREAKING: We’re again urging governor @elrufai & @GovKaduna to immediately drop bogus incitement charges against human rights lawyer @ChidiOdinkalu
& end attacks on critics.
“Your friends violated the Penal Code of Kaduna Stare (sic), and believe social media activism makes them above the law.”
If the charges are bogus, why is he scared of appearing before a court of law for exoneration? Your friends violated the Penal Code of Kaduna Stare, and believe social media activism makes them above the law. https://t.co/v0vUioxRB2
— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) September 19, 2020
“Kaduna authorities should stop using ‘incitement charges’ as a pretext to target critics & journalists.” the tweet reads
El-Rufai while responding to the tweet said if the charges are bogus, Prof. Chidi should appear before the court to clear himself
“If the charges are bogus, why is he scared of appearing before a court of law for exoneration?” El-Rufai asked
He said Prof. Chidi is not above the law.
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