Lagos, Oct 10, 2016 – Human Rights Activist, Mr. Mike Ozekhome(SAN), has condemned in totality nocturnal invasion of homes and arrest of judges across Nigeria at the weekend, describing the development as nothing but an attempt to intimidate and subsumed the judiciary.
ARREST OF JUDGES MEANT TO INTIMIDATE, SUBSUME JUDICIARY – OZEKHOME
Ozekhome who was speaking on AIT said it might be too late for those shying away from speaking against the development to do so when it is their turn.
He said it is wrong for the DSS to broke into the homes of judges in the night like thieves without giving those affected fair hearing.
He said even God the omnipotent instituted the process of fair hearing when he asked Adam and Eve why they ate the forbidden before passing judgement.
He said he will not only support any call by the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) to embark on strike over the development but to say, “judges do not seat until you get your independence”, he said.
He wondered why the President has not demonstrated similar zeal in invading and arresting people in his cabinet accused of corruption.
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The SAN said the development will send fears into the minds of judges sitting on judgment to begin to wonder what judgment to give that will not be offensive to those in power.
He said it is wrong for people to say that he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that he quit partisan politics 10 years ago, specifically in 2002 when PDP told him there is no vacancy when he contemplated contesting for Governor of Edo State.
He said he left and approached All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), which also turned him down. He said he said has been brutalised severally and that he was among those who fought for democracy with the likes of the late Gani Fawehinmi.
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