DSS invasion: Lawyers urge NBA to boycott courts
https://infoniger.blogspot.com/2016/10/dss-invasion-lawyers-urge-nba-to.html
– The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been urged to boycott all the courts in the country –
This is the submission of Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa
Adegboruwa was reacting to the overnight invasion of judges’ homes by the Department of State Security (DSS) Popular Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the NBA to boycott all the courts in the country due to the overnight invasion of judges’ homes by the DSS.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa calls for the boycott of court by the NBA
In a statement made available to journalists today, October 8, Adegboruwa described the action of the security agency as “full blown dictatorship”.
“It is now a case of anarchists in power. The clampdown on judges has been on for a long time, through agents of government in the various institutions of oppression.
“We are now back to the 1984 jackboot system of intolerance, where all dissenting views and opinions must be silenced.
“It is condemnable for the DSS, which is an arm of the executive, to be breathing down on the judicial arm of government, under the guise of fighting corruption.
“It is meant to silence the opposition and to cover the inefficiency and cluelessness of this administration,” part of the statement read.
Adegboruwa also referred to the 1999 Constitution in sections 4, 5 and 6 which prescribes the system of separation of powers between the three arms of government.
He also opined that the present administration is hell-bent on intimidating other arms of government through its actions.
“Since 2015 when this government was sworn in, the executive arm under General Buhari has dominated and brutalized the other two arms of government.
The leadership of the National Assembly is under trial and it is now the turn of the judiciary. “It is in this regard that the mindless invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable.
“It should never happen that the executive is indirectly threatening and intimidating members of the third estate of the realm.
“As judges have no voices to speak officially, I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to declare an indefinite strike so that all courts of law in Nigeria will be boycotted until there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, commencing from Monday, October 10, 2016, until further notice,” Adegboruwa added.
Supporting Adegboruwa’s call, another Lagos-based lawyer, Barrister Uduak Ekott described the action of the DSS as a “clear case of executive recklessness.” Ekott said there are channels to be followed when there are allegations of corruption against any serving judge.
“It’s a sad day for democracy in Nigeria and the independence of the judiciary is threatened. I support the call for a boycott of courts by fellow lawyers,” Ekott added.
This is the submission of Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa
Adegboruwa was reacting to the overnight invasion of judges’ homes by the Department of State Security (DSS) Popular Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the NBA to boycott all the courts in the country due to the overnight invasion of judges’ homes by the DSS.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa calls for the boycott of court by the NBA
In a statement made available to journalists today, October 8, Adegboruwa described the action of the security agency as “full blown dictatorship”.
“It is now a case of anarchists in power. The clampdown on judges has been on for a long time, through agents of government in the various institutions of oppression.
“We are now back to the 1984 jackboot system of intolerance, where all dissenting views and opinions must be silenced.
“It is condemnable for the DSS, which is an arm of the executive, to be breathing down on the judicial arm of government, under the guise of fighting corruption.
“It is meant to silence the opposition and to cover the inefficiency and cluelessness of this administration,” part of the statement read.
Adegboruwa also referred to the 1999 Constitution in sections 4, 5 and 6 which prescribes the system of separation of powers between the three arms of government.
He also opined that the present administration is hell-bent on intimidating other arms of government through its actions.
“Since 2015 when this government was sworn in, the executive arm under General Buhari has dominated and brutalized the other two arms of government.
The leadership of the National Assembly is under trial and it is now the turn of the judiciary. “It is in this regard that the mindless invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable.
“It should never happen that the executive is indirectly threatening and intimidating members of the third estate of the realm.
“As judges have no voices to speak officially, I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to declare an indefinite strike so that all courts of law in Nigeria will be boycotted until there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, commencing from Monday, October 10, 2016, until further notice,” Adegboruwa added.
Supporting Adegboruwa’s call, another Lagos-based lawyer, Barrister Uduak Ekott described the action of the DSS as a “clear case of executive recklessness.” Ekott said there are channels to be followed when there are allegations of corruption against any serving judge.
“It’s a sad day for democracy in Nigeria and the independence of the judiciary is threatened. I support the call for a boycott of courts by fellow lawyers,” Ekott added.
