The Ilaro Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has kicked against what it termed, ‘Unlawful Arrests and Flagrant Disobedience to the Rule of Law in Broad Day Light’ as men of Department of States Security (DSS), unlawfully invaded the premises of Ilaro Division of the Ogun State High Court to carry out arrest of suspects, despite prior warning issued by the court not to carry out such arrests within the court premises.
VOA News Correspondent gathered that men of DSS, on Monday, unlawfully invaded the premises of Ogun State High Court Division sitting in Ilaro, where a case with Suit N0. HCP/IC/2023, was being heard. As gathered by our Correspondent, while the case was on-going, dangerous looking men, who wielded sophisticated guns and other weapons, gained entrance into the court premises, unleashing terror on litigants whose trial were ongoing and also inflicted injury on one of the court staff, despite a strong prior Order from the Presiding Judge – Hon. Justice A.A. Shobayo, that they should not carry out any arrest within the court premises so as not to disrupt court proceedings and peace.
The Men of DSS, after leaving the court’s hall, went outside within the court premises, flouted, disregarded and violated the Order issued by the court by forcefully arresting litigants, disrupting the peace of the court’s proceedings and assaulting one of the court’s staff who is also a JUSUN member. This was also confirmed by the Assistant Chief Registrar of the Ilaro High Court. Video evidence available. This, the Yewa Bar terms a complete and flagrant affront to the Rule of Law, as against the Rule by Men, which acts demonstrates an apparent disregard for the judiciary, which is also aimed at unlawfully terminating its integrity and desecrating the holy Temple of Justice.
According to the Chairman of the Branch – Israel Oluwatowo Talabi Esq., “An independent and courageous judiciary is the greatest asset of a free people anywhere in the world. This is absolutely so, because by the very nature of the fundamental functions and role, thereof, the judiciary is the citizens’ last line of defence and hope in a free democratic society. Indeed, that is the line separating constitutionalism from totalitarianism”. See Sahara Reporter & Anor v. Saraki (2018) LPELR-49738(CA) (Pp. 45-46 paras. B).
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (Ilaro Branch) through its Chairman, Chief Oluwatowo Talabi, has raised eyebrow and totally condemned in its entirety, the ‘flagrant disobedience to the rule of law, the Judiciary and desecration of the premises of the Ilaro High Court by the DSS ‘, asking “where is justice and respect for the rule of law in Nigeria?”
Without mincing words, the arrest made by the men of DSS shows a complete disregard to the rule of law and this the Yewa Bar completely condemns and such officers should be brought to book.
He further reiterated the dictum of Lord Atken in Liversidge v. Anderson (1942) AC 206 @ 244, where it was stated that: “In this country, amid the clash of arms, the laws are not silent.
They speak the same language in war as in peace. It has always been one of the pillars of freedom, one of the principle of liberty for which on recent authority we are now fighting, that the judges are no respecter of persons and stand between the subject and any attempted encroachment on his liberty by the executive…
” The Ilaro Branch (the Yewa Bar) through its chairman, called on relevant agencies and people that matters in government to come to the aid of common man so that ‘the era of brutality, self-help, lack of respect for fundamental human rights and day light impunity in the country is checked before it manifests a ‘hydra-headed epidemic that may even consume the administration of justice itself’.
Power Drunken DSS Operatives Dare Court, Carries Out Unlawful Arrests Within Court Premises Despite Judge’s Warning.
