There was tension at the Federal High Court on Wednesday morning as human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, appeared in court amid a heavy presence of armed operatives of the Department of State Services.
The operatives, who were stationed around the courtroom and court premises, reportedly prevented some lawyers, supporters and associates of the activist from gaining access to the proceedings.
They were also seen restricting movement around the court premises, a development that heightened tension among those who had come to witness the hearing.
Among those allegedly stopped from entering the courtroom was the National Secretary of the African Action Congress, Oshiok Philip, who confronted the DSS operatives over what he described as an unconstitutional restriction.
Philip insisted that the courtroom is a public space and accused the operatives of violating the Constitution by denying members of the public, including Sowore’s supporters and associates, access to the proceedings.
He warned that the DSS should not allow itself to be used as a tool of the ruling class against dissenting voices, saying Sowore remains one of the few Nigerians genuinely committed to rescuing the country from bad governance and abuse of power.
Philip further urged the secret police to stop acting in a manner that undermines democratic norms and public confidence, adding that the agency should conduct itself in a way that respects due process and the rule of law.
The development followed Monday’s order by Justice Mohammed Umar remanding Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Shortly after that ruling, while Sowore was said to be waiting for prison officials to convey him to Kuje, armed DSS operatives reportedly stormed the courtroom and forcefully took him away.
The operatives were alleged to have dragged him from the court premises in what supporters described as a Gestapo-style operation. Sowore was also reportedly injured in the arm during the incident.
The incident has sparked outrage among his supporters and members of the AAC, who described the conduct of the DSS as lawless, repressive and an assault on the sanctity of the court.
Wednesday’s heavy security presence and restriction of access to the courtroom have further raised concerns over the treatment of Sowore by security agencies and renewed questions about due process, human rights and respect for the rule of law.
.. “Courtroom Is A Public Space” — Armed SSS Operatives Block Lawyers, Supporters As Sowore Appears Before Federal High Court … NewsNGR.
