Rule of Law: Nigeria’s fatuous Jingle -By Adetunji Ayobrown

Freedom is now the fatuous jingle of our civilisation with only those deprived having the barest inclination of what it really is. Ask El-Zayzaki, Dasuki and Sowore, if you doubt this fact. Remind me how it all started, but until it latest, ‘We released Sowore, Dasuki out of mercy’, FG is now magnanimous deity. After millions of condemnations, as ‘obedience of the ‘disrespected’ court orders’ makes them responsible, they claimed, but they seem to have forgotten that there is need to know and understands the rules of the game because they have played it long enough. Truly, you don’t have to be an operative to see the obvious, not lying, I guess.

The release of Sowore and Dasuki came after about four years of government disobedience of court directives; at least five separate court orders granting bail to the ex-NSA, and two orders granting bail to Sowore in September and November 2019 where flagrantly disobeyed and were demonstrations of government’s commitment to and respect of the rule of law indeed.

I doubt if the FG measures danger the way it is internationally recommended, If not so, why would the presidency say “the only reasons for the release of Omoyele Sowore and Sambo Dasuki revolved around our commitment to the rule of law, obedience to court orders and compassionate grounds” after all disobediences that were witnessed in broad daylight.

Not many field agents get to live clean, and this is obvious though reason for this remains unclear. Though if it’s elsewhere many heads would have rolled by now. The FG needs to also borrow from other climes where things are working and learn that executive violation of court orders can lead to impeachment. The December 6, 2019 invasion of an Abuja high court by DSS operatives to rearrest the former presidential candidate, Sowore galvanised domestic and international condemnations of the culture of impunity, disregard for human rights, and violation of the rule of law, which are believed to be major features of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

But why not stay dead on this and look for a way out of the tangle instead of saying it was not due to any domestic or international pressure. Even those considered too young knew and can tell that the releases were not for free and that the threat of facing sanctions of any kind from the developed world was the reason.

I tried to live in the now where the ghost of old wrongs does not abide. The FG said the release of the duo was based on compassionate grounds, in a statement, that they were released because the government decided to comply with orders granting them bail but forgot or decided to blank out Nigerians why it took FG so long to obey it courts’ orders.

It is not their past that interest many but their today, explaining why the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, were not released like Dasuki and Sowore, Malami said, ‘the Federal Government does not interfere  with the cases that are being prosecuted by a state government’. Yes, his past may be far from notable, what are items on his bail conditions is just ‘money and properties worth’, and ‘El-Zakzaky’s changing of ways’ is not included, many are asking.

It is necessary to note that there are times when our world requires the services of singular individuals. Six United States of American lawmakers reportedly wrote the FG requesting the release of Sowore and urging adherence to the rule of law. But the presidency claimed that the duos were released not due to domestic and international pressure, specifically denying receiving any letter from the American lawmakers.

Many believed rhetorically that government is being economical with the truth. Imagine the release came 13 days after PUNCH published a hard-hitting editorial criticising the human rights record of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and his government’s penchant for ignoring court orders. A rich editorial content informed the public of its decision to prefix the president’s name with his army rank as a military dictator in the 80s and to refer to his administration as a regime pending the time that the President and the regime would purge themselves of their contempt for the rule of law.

It is worthy of note that for the about four years of Dasuki’s detention, there was no appeal filed by the government against any of the five court orders granting him bail. Also, the FG did not file an appeal against the bail granted Sowore in September before his arraignment on charges of treasonable felony among others, and even in November after his arraignment on the charges. The Department of States Services reluctantly released Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, on December 5, following a 24-hour ultimatum issued by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, but only for the operatives of the agency to invade the court the following day to re-arrest the ‘RevolutionNow’ protests convener.

There are no exceptions; we have lived long enough to see the future become history. Where is the sense of patriotism? The president and many other officials swore to uphold and defend Nigeria’s Constitution, but what do we have now? It is Dasuki and Sowore today, the so called enemies of the state, whose turn is it tomorrow? Tomorrow is about to become history therefore it is apt to set good precedence. Yes, multiple options are available to government in the aftermath of the court orders for the detainees’ bail that “include the right to appeal the said ruling, the right to ask the same court that issued an order to vary or review the terms of the order as well as the right to request for stay of execution of the order pending the hearing and determination of an appeal in that matter’.

Though, they prefer less provocative titles, many security agents are overzealous. That notion makes some sweat, you remember DSS’ last sweet sorrow party, that really wasn’t fun. Many involved knew the truth is about to hunt any moment. The empire that may end up in peril allow such behaviours, if you can’t do it with a bullet don’t do it at all was their training. Stories of what Nigerians experience in the hands of those who are suppose to secure them abound, especially in the hands if the DSS and a major example is the invasion of court to arrest a suspect. This has become a trait common to this administration.

Nigerians have had enough of these daily records of violence and are now in the mood for peace and tranquillity, something that will make us proud to be a citizen. A president who listened carefully and truly declared fit for active service is what we need at this time. I believe this is what Nigerians are desirous of at this time. Life is too short to be wasted.

Rule of law should be not just a dingle.