Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Justin Portal Welby urging him to use his good offices and leadership and his “friendship with President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on him to obey court orders most recently involving activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare who remain in arbitrary detention despite a court order for their release.”

SERAP expressed “serious concerns about the disturbing trends by state governments and federal government to use the court as a tool to suppress citizens’ human rights.”

In the letter dated 11 November 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “We believe you can use your leadership position and influence to persuade President Buhari to promote the rule of law in words and in action by obeying all court orders including the order for the releasing of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention.”

SERAP also said, “As the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we believe you can reaffirm your belief in justice, rule of law and the basic human rights of all people by speaking out with a strong voice against the repeated disobedience of court orders and the implicitly lack of respect by the government for the integrity and authority of the Nigerian judiciary.”

The letter read in part: “Taking a stance on the issues of the rule of law and respect for court orders in Nigeria will also contribute to ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law by the 36 state governments in Nigeria, as these governments seem to be taking their cue from the federal authorities regarding disobedience of court orders.”

“Journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare are facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, simply for exercising their human rights. Mr Sowore, was arrested on August 3 by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for planning a protest.”

“Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Sowore and Bakare bail but the security agents have continued to refuse to release them despite being served with the court orders. This refusal implicitly violates the defendants’ constitutional rights to presumption of innocence.”

“We therefore respectfully call on you to speak out on the repeated disobedience of court orders by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him to obey all court orders including the orders for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention.”

Specifically, SERAP asked Most Revd Justin Portal Welby to:

Clearly and publicly condemn lack of respect for the rule of law and court orders in Nigeria
Call for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from detention as ordered by the court
Call for greater legal protections for human rights activists and journalists in Nigeria who are simply exercising their right to freedom of expression and working to hold their leaders to account.

http://serap-nigeria.org/serap-writes-archbishop-of-canterbury-seeks-his-intervention-in-sowores-case.ngo/

One of my regrets is supporting Buhari, Jonathan's looting and savage sharing of our common wealth made me dislike him and his cronies but when you look at Buhari and his unforgiven attitude; I am left to wonder what options would I have been left with in 2015.

A. A clueless drunkard surrounded by common criminals
B. A man that does not forgive

I am in a tight corner.

when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Proverbs 29:2

Wait, they haven't released him on bail till today?

Let's watch and see what happens

But we all know that ears dey pain buhari....how bishop wan explain this letter to am in a time of birthday jamboree over there?

Cool

Hmmm

Buhari that doesn't hear God I pray he listen to them

They should write to daura

Archbishop not interfere in naija local matters. oga mind is made up

If Yorubas start protesting now, northerners will say Yorubas betrayed Buhari.

Sowore 2023 ain't far

Dope

The case don serious reach like this.

Let's hope they heed this call and prevail on the president to do the right thing and obey court orders

This is a good ideal since the Bishop is Buhari ‘s friend! Hopefully he listens to him!!

9jvirgin:
One of my regrets is supporting Buhari, Jonathan's looting and savage sharing of our common wealth made me dislike him and his cronies but when you look at Buhari and his unforgiven attitude; I am left to wonder what options would I have been left with in 2015.

A. A clueless drunkard surrounded by common criminals
B. A man that does not forgive

I am in a tight corner.

You are the greatest coward ever to grace this earth . Have you ever seen a video of Jonathan staggering after drinking or you heard . You are a pure definition of a fool. Sai Baba 2023. WE CANNOT GIVE POWER TO SLAVES INSTEAD WE GIVE IT TO EAST .

Good move. Let the Archbishop know the true colour of his new friend

tynewsng:
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Justin Portal Welby urging him to use his good offices and leadership and his “friendship with President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on him to obey court orders most recently involving activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare who remain in arbitrary detention despite a court order for their release.”

SERAP expressed “serious concerns about the disturbing trends by state governments and federal government to use the court as a tool to suppress citizens’ human rights.”

In the letter dated 11 November 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “We believe you can use your leadership position and influence to persuade President Buhari to promote the rule of law in words and in action by obeying all court orders including the order for the releasing of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention.”

SERAP also said, “As the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we believe you can reaffirm your belief in justice, rule of law and the basic human rights of all people by speaking out with a strong voice against the repeated disobedience of court orders and the implicitly lack of respect by the government for the integrity and authority of the Nigerian judiciary.”

The letter read in part: “Taking a stance on the issues of the rule of law and respect for court orders in Nigeria will also contribute to ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law by the 36 state governments in Nigeria, as these governments seem to be taking their cue from the federal authorities regarding disobedience of court orders.”

“Journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare are facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, simply for exercising their human rights. Mr Sowore, was arrested on August 3 by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for planning a protest.”

“Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Sowore and Bakare bail but the security agents have continued to refuse to release them despite being served with the court orders. This refusal implicitly violates the defendants’ constitutional rights to presumption of innocence.”

“We therefore respectfully call on you to speak out on the repeated disobedience of court orders by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him to obey all court orders including the orders for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention.”

Specifically, SERAP asked Most Revd Justin Portal Welby to:

Clearly and publicly condemn lack of respect for the rule of law and court orders in Nigeria
Call for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from detention as ordered by the court
Call for greater legal protections for human rights activists and journalists in Nigeria who are simply exercising their right to freedom of expression and working to hold their leaders to account.

http://serap-nigeria.org/serap-writes-archbishop-of-canterbury-seeks-his-intervention-in-sowores-case.ngo/

Most Revd Justin Welby has an excellent opportunity to show that he and the Church of England is not another tool of neocolonialism, despite clear evidence suggesting that it is. Slavery Ships were "blessed" before and after they sailed to Africa to bring in human cargo.

Let us see if he would respond let alone do anything. I dont expect him too. That is neocolonialism for you. The “Church” in England is a political tool. Specifically, a foreign policy tool. Always has been. Always would be. That is why the Anglican Church of England have reduced the noise they were making as regards gay Bishops, because of the African/ Asian Anglican Church were threatening a pull out. Once they do, you are unable to manipulate them as a foreign policy tool.

Thought enemies of state said Buhari is a bigot and on a mission to Islamize the country. Now they see Buhari as being friends with the head of Anglican worldwide because of what they want to achieve.


Well I want Buhari to do the following.

obey the court and release him.

Persuade the court to expedite the trial and sentence him ASAP instead of continued detention.

I believe 100% Sowore cannot escape jail except there’s a political negotiation.

sammyj:
This is a good ideal since the Bishop is Buhari ‘s friend! Hopefully he listens to him!!

e don red, dem don dey find who go beg buhari

It's always good to stand for justice no matter what. I wish to see where Sowore stood for Dasuki release. The pendulum turns so fast in this country.

DSS abeg release Sowore for us!

waiting concerns me for Afonjas and Fulani matter

9jvirgin:
One of my regrets is supporting Buhari, Jonathan's looting and savage sharing of our common wealth made me dislike him and his cronies but when you look at Buhari and his unforgiven attitude; I am left to wonder what options would I have been left with in 2015.

A. A clueless drunkard surrounded by common criminals
B. A man that does not forgive

I am in a tight corner.

But there were options C,D,E... and so on

9jvirgin:
One of my regrets is supporting Buhari, Jonathan's looting and savage sharing of our common wealth made me dislike him and his cronies but when you look at Buhari and his unforgiven attitude; I am left to wonder what options would I have been left with in 2015.

A. A clueless drunkard surrounded by common criminals
B. A man that does not forgive

I am in a tight corner.

goodluck is clueless drunkard surrounded by common criminals ?

buhari is cluefull sober and surrounded by saints abi

what is wrong with nigerian youth? una brain must have stopped working . Nigeria no get future true true