Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has condemned the conduct of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in court and the alleged abduction and manhandling of activist Omoyele Sowore during proceedings.
Adeyanju described the incident as a violation of the rule of law in an incident that occurred shortly after Sowore was remanded in prison custody on Monday.
Videos in circulation showed heavily armed DSS operatives pointing their guns and warning they would shoot if supporters of the activist came closer, as they surrounded him while taking him away.
Adeyanju said such public treatment of Sowore in court was “disheartening,” insisting that every Nigerian deserves fair treatment before the law regardless of political affiliation.
“The public humiliation of Omoyele Sowore in court today is disheartening. Regardless of political affiliation, every Nigerian deserves fair treatment before the law,” he said.
Adeyanju also faulted the decision to remand Sowore, noting that the activist had reportedly sought time to secure new legal representation.
“The decision to remand him in prison, particularly in circumstances where he had sought time to secure new legal representation, is quite unfortunate,” he stated.
He further alleged that security operatives physically accosted and manhandled Sowore within the court premises, warning that such actions undermine the sanctity of judicial institutions.
“The reports that security operatives physically accosted and manhandled Sowore within the court premises are even more disturbing.
“The court is a hallowed institution of justice. It must remain insulated from actions capable of intimidating litigants, lawyers, or members of the public and should not be turned into arenas for displays of force,” Adeyanju said.
He stressed that arrests, where necessary, must be conducted in a dignified manner and cautioned that incidents of this nature could damage Nigeria’s democratic image.
Adeyanju urged the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu to ensure that justice is administered without political interference or intimidation of opposition figures.
Incidents of this nature, he said, risk portraying Nigeria as a country that does not sufficiently respect the rule of law, adding that citizens must be allowed to freely participate in the democratic process while disputes are resolved strictly through legal means.
