The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has demanded for the immediate suspension of the Director-General, DG, of the Department of l State Security Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi.
The Lawyers Association was reacting to Friday’s invasion of a Federal High Court, in Abuja, by armed Officials of the DSS.

The Officials disrupted the court proceedings, in their bid to re-arrest Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare. Both Activists, arrested for planning a nationwide protest, were released by the DSS, on Thursday night, about 125 days after their arrest.

They had been granted bail by two different Judges, but the DSS refused to release them.

The Agency, however, released them on Thursday, after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the DSS 24 hours to release the Activists, who are being tried for treasonable felony and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

They were however, re-arrested on Friday.

In its statement, on Friday, the NBA said that it was “dismayed at the exhibition of primitivity, thuggery, insane passion for lawlessness, contempt and disrespect for the rule of law by the Agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, within the precints of the Federal High Court, Abuja”.
The NBA, therefore, made four demands including the “immediate suspension of the Director-General of the Department of State Security from Office”.

“We make this demand bearing in mind the fact that the DSS under his leadership has established itself as a brutish and irresponsible agency that derives immense pleasure from violating the fundamental rights of Nigerians and disrespecting court orders”, Kunle Edun, the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, said in a statement.
The Association also called for an investigation of the DSS’ action, as well as a review of the law establishing the Agency.

Read the full statement by the NBA below:

“Nigerian Bar Association is greatly dismayed at the exhibition of primitivity, thuggery, insane passion for lawlessness, contempt and disrespect for the rule of law by the agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the precints of the Federal High Court, Abuja while attempting to re-arrest Citizens Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare earlier today. Eventually Sowore and Bakare were re-arrested by the DSS inspite of being on bail granted by the Federal High Court.

“The NBA has been properly briefed – beyond the shameful videos of the incident in public domain- by our members who witnessed the disgraceful and crass violation of the hallowed precincts of the law by the officers of the Department of State Services, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The NBA finds it disgraceful that this ‘court riot’ occasioned by the high handedness and insensitivity of the security operatives interrupted judicial proceedings and made the Presiding Judge to abandon judicial proceedings because of safety concerns.

“The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the action of the Department of State Security, which is another in the series of impunity and lawlessness exhibited by the DSS. The invasion of the court by the agency of the Gederal Government of Nigeria runs contrary to the avowed assurances of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he will ensure that the Federal Government and agencies under it obeys court orders. The disrespect of the court by the DSS is legendary and unrivalled.

“Few days ago, the officers of the Nigerian Police Force exhibited similar traits when it also invaded the precincts of the High Court, Effurun to arrest Mr. Ademi-Akpeto, Chairman of Sapele branch of the NBA. Many Nigerians are still in unlawful custody and not charged to court. Nigerians are now under siege by security agents who have no regards for the law and the courts.

“The NBA urges all Nigerians to be alive to their responsibilities as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is ready to partner with all Nigerians and civil society organisations to ensure that the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended are not trampled upon by by any agency of government. The NBA therefore, demands as follows:

1. That the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly immediately investigate the shameful conduct by the DSS and ensure that all persons found culpable are duly punished in accordance with the law.

2. The immediate suspension of the Director General of the Department of State Security from office. We make this demand bearing in mind the fact that the DSS under his leadership has established itself as a brutish and irresponsible agency that derives immense pleasure from violating the fundamental rights of Nigerians and disrespecting court orders.

3. That the National Assembly should review the laws setting up the DSS and indeed all security agencies in Nigeria with a view to repositioning them to be more responsible and responsive to the public.

4. That the Attorney General of the Federation, being the Chief Law officer of the Federation takes over all the political cases or cases involving politically exposed persons presently handled by the DSS.

“The above demands of the NBA is without prejuduce to the consultations presently going on amongst critical Stakeholders in the legal profession and the judiciary on how best to ensure that this sad incident does not re-occur.

“NBA thanks all Lawyers and Nigerians who have expressed displeasure over this sad incident. NBA shall keep lawyers and Nigerians alike informed of our further engagements with critical stakeholders.

Kunle Edun,
National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association.”

Source: https://www.ogbeta.ng/2019/12/breaking-courts-may-shut-down.html

Lalasticlala

Shutdown or not, wetin be the difference man?

When he removed the CJN, una sleep?

Ok we hear

That one no fit work in Nigeria.

Empty threats

Seems

mercyefe200:
Lalasticlala

Is he the first lawyer from the left in the picture above?

Making of noises without actions, we are already in the next level and we will all enjoy it till it lasts us....

Excellent, very good of them.in short,all Nigerians should go on hunger strike through out the Christmas eve

Buhari will be so happy about that, and dont give a f@ck about what the court do, now that the court is gulping out threats of shutting down, he will be happy being given the privilege to be passing out Gestaporic orders from ASO-ROCK CARTEL

OK may when u give us date , then I will take una serious

Empty threats...

Sit down look na

helinues:
That one no fit work in Nigeria.

Empty threats

Paid agent of apathy. How much exactly does it cost for you to betray your country ike this?

Nigerians would never cease to amaze me.

I doubt a lot of people understand what's at stake here.

Anyway regardless, what section of the Constitution gives a person the right to public expression and what section also says any law, rule or order that contradicts this laws shall be statutorily declared null and void?

And why are we debating on the issue of Sowore is protesting because he lost, —yes of course. He contested because he hoped to change the country if he wins.. he didn't win does not mean he would sit quiet like a dog and fold it's tail.

If Sowore was President, on God. Listen to Me, On God, the youthful policies and compassionate vigour he would use in ruling this country would change Nigeria in eight years.

His winning would pave way for other like-minded youths with intellectual capacity to contest for Governorship anf other posts and then collectively, they would change this nation.

NoGender:
Nigerians would never cease to amaze me.

I doubt a lot of people understand what's at stake here.

Anyway regardless, what session of the Constitution gives a person the right to public expression and what session also says any law, rule or order that contradicts this laws shall be statutorily declared null and void?

And why are we debating on the issue of Sowore is protesting because he lost, yes of course. He contested because he hoped to change the country if he wins.. he didn't win does not mean he would sit quiet like a dog and fold it's tail.

If Sowore was President, on God. Listen to Me, On God, the youthful policies and compassionate vigour he would use in ruling this country would change Nigeria in eight years.

His winning would pave way for other like minded youths with intellectual capacity to contest for Governorship and other posts and then collectively, they would change this nation.

Your stupid brain does not go beyond politics and election..APC & PDP....you know nothing about law and order in a society..becos you have been born and program that way into this stupid country that celebrate lawlessness and mediocrity as a way of life..You yourself a mediocre should slap for your self for a wonderful country your suppose party has been operating.
I don't blame you for playing with important national issues and making nonsense out of serious issues at hand that could affect us negatively. What matter to you most is about election and someone lost to an election. What has it got to do with the Fed govt undermining court orders.
These two stupid parties do not give damn about you weather if you live or die. You are a die hard party loyalist but you are not exempted from the hardship that is affecting everyone in recent times nor will you be exempted if this country is set on fire. Everything is a joke to you Teenagers.

It's the masses that will still suffer. Those poor prisoners awaiting trial won't have their cases heard. Who cares about them

omoharry:
Your stupid brain does not go beyond politics and election..APC & PDP....you know nothing about law and order in a society..becos you have been born and program that way into this stupid country that celebrate lawlessness and mediocrity as a way of life..You yourself a mediocre should slap for your self for a wonderful country your suppose party has been operating.
I don't blame you for playing with important national issues and making nonsense out of serious issues at hand that could affect us negatively. What matter to you most is about election and someone lost to an election. What has it got to do with the Fed govt undermining court orders.
These two stupid parties do not give damn about you weather if you live or die. You are a die hard party loyalist but you are not exempted from the hardship that is affecting everyone in recent times nor will you be exempted if this country is set on fire. Everything is a joke to you Teenagers.

You're a stupid old dumb cunt. Go back to school and learn to read you foool!

What concerned my write up with partisan politics? Reply me with coherent facts and let's see how learned you are, talking bout I don't know politics, look at this cunt!

Did you read where i drummed support for either PDP or APC?

We watch!

Same lawyers will come back to defend DSS. A confused profession

Jokers. If court should shut down who on this forum will honestly care?

Some will still open secretly

Nigerians can never unanimously agree on anything

NoGender:


You're a stupid old dumb cunt. Go back to school and learn to read you foool!

What concerned my write up with partisan politics? Reply me with coherent facts and let's see how learned you are, talking bout I don't know politics, look at this cunt!

Did you read where i drummed support for either PDP or APC?

It is good you got the message.Bye.

Please wait. Is the DSS actually constitutional or Presidential ordered?

Courts may shut down.

Wake us up when they actually shut down.

Try it and see....



Ordinary charge and bail lawyers.