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…shouldn’t bring down the house, for his personal views
By Raphael Onyekachukwu
A human right activist and promoter of Movement of Voice for Democracy has berated President Muhammadu Buhari by saying the government will continue to detain two prominent detainees; former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and the leader, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) despite several court orders that they should be released from detention.
He warned the president not to bring down the house, because of his personal views, no matter how altruistic he may appear to portray himself.
During Wednesday’s presidential media chat, Mr. Buhari, while responding to a question by Ibanga Isine on the State Security Service’s continued disregard on court orders to release Mr. Dasuki and Mr. Kanu, said the magnitude of their alleged crimes was too grievous that government cannot afford to release them on bail.
Mr Dasuki is facing corruption charges over alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the
procurement of arms while Mr. Kanu was charged for treasonable felony.
procurement of arms while Mr. Kanu was charged for treasonable felony.
“If you see the atrocities these people committed against this country, we can’t allow them
to jump bail. What of the over two million people displaced most of them orphans whose
fathers have been killed? We cannot allow that,” he said justifying while the SSS re- arrested Mr. Dasuki despite meeting bail conditions fixed by a Federal High Court.
to jump bail. What of the over two million people displaced most of them orphans whose
fathers have been killed? We cannot allow that,” he said justifying while the SSS re- arrested Mr. Dasuki despite meeting bail conditions fixed by a Federal High Court.
On why Mr. Kanu was still being held, Mr Buhari said: “And the one you are calling Kanu, do you know he has two passports – one Nigerian, one British – and he came into this country without any passport? Do you know he came into this country with sophisticated equipment and was broadcasting for Radio Biafra?”
A human rights activist, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo who spoke to our correspondent said President Buhari overstepped his power by openly defying the judiciary on national television.
He however, said the comment has proven that Mr. Buhari is still an “unrepentant dictator”. We should not expect anything difference, he was a former head of a military junta, which ruled the country in the 1980s with an iron fist, and his open defiance to the judiciary order is not least expected.
“President Buhari, should not bring down the house, because of his personal views, no matter how altruistic period a mind-set. The president, and the APC, ought to be aware of the duty cast upon them by section 287(3) of the Nigeria’s constitution (as amended)”.
Sec. 287(3) reads in part: “the decisions of the federal high court, a high court and of all others courts established by this constitution shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons …”
