Nigerians across the globe have reacted to the purported invasion of the court by men from the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday to effect the arrest of Omoyele Sowore.
Omoyele Sowore is the Nigerian activist and convener of RevolutionNow, a mass protest organised to demand for good governance on the part of the government.
Sowore was arrested in the early hours of August 3, 2019 the day the protest was scheduled to hold.
He was released, according to multiple media sources at 7.15 pm on Thursday December 5, 2019, after spending four months in DSS custody.
Sowore appeared for his hearing on Friday and after his case has been heard, men of the DSS allegedly invaded the courtroom to effect his arrest which resulted into pandemonium and hurried adjournment of court session by trial judge for the next case that was called after that of Sowore.
Since then Nigerians worldwide and from all walks of life have been reacting to the purported desecration of the judiciary, an independent arm of government by the DSS.
Some have criticised the action, describing it as the lowest Nigeria can go in terms of lack of respect for the rule of law.
The lead defence lawyer, Femi Falana, was quoted as saying that “we either run this country on the platform of rule of law, or we all resort to gangsterism…“
Yet there were others who felt that Sowore’s injury was self-afflicted having attempted to overthrow a validly elected government.
Here are some of the reactions:
The rule of law is the essence of a state. When a state descends into a Hobbesian system, no one is safe, everyone is prey and everyone is a victim. What the DSS did today will go down on record as one of @MBuhari ‘s lowest points as president. It is hard to go lower from here!
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) December 6, 2019
President @MBuhari , the whole world is watching the video of officials of the State Security Service which you directly supervise, brutally violate the constitutional rights of a citizen @YeleSowore inside a court and desecrated our Judiciary- an independent arm of government. https://t.co/OkzyISS7Ae
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) December 6, 2019
Watching the video of the re-arrest of Mr Sowore right inside a court of law is saddening. People expect their leaders to model the right behaviour. When those that should enforce the law break it, it weakens everyone’s resolve. We must do better to build our democracy.
— Sam Adeyemi (@sam_adeyemi) December 7, 2019
On Sowore, I said:
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) December 7, 2019
1. I don’t think there would have been any revolution on the date announced
2. The FGN was rather heavy-handed
3. Bringing him back to court will ensure his release
4. He shouldn’t have been re-arrested in court@premises.
It’s still my opinion. Let it pain you.
