The court of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja was invaded by Nigeria’s secret service, Department of State Services (DSS) on 6 December 2019 to rearrest Omoyele Sowore, a freedom fighter.
Sowore was first arrested by the DSS on 2 August 2019. He was kept in detention till 5 December 2019 when he was reluctantly released following a 24 hour ultimatum to the DSS by Justice Ojukwu to release him and his co-accused, Bakare.
She had granted bail to the accused, but the DSS refused to obey the order, forcing her to give the ultimatum. Having complied, the DSS roars back to action the next day, invades her court to take Sowore. By this, DSS violates rule of law.
Like the judiciary, the legislature has also tasted the raw powers of the Service. In August 2018, while the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari was on medical vacation in London, the Department invaded the National Assembly, holding it down. It’s the executive arm of government on the offensive. But who gave the order?
Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo says the blockade is unauthorized. He describes the action as gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order.
He refuses to condone the brazen act executed without his knowledge. He feels undermined and assures Nigerians that all persons involved would be identified and subjected to disciplinary action.
Yes, he acted swiftly and struck ferociously. He ends the siege, fires Lawal Daura as Director-General of the Service and Matthew Seiyefa, the most senior director takes over in acting capacity.
On assuming office, Seiyefa was convinced that the time is ripe to reposition the Service. He promised that the operations of the Department will show respect for the tenets of democracy and rule of law. But as soon as Buhari returned, he removes him for Yusuf Magaji Bichi. Such is the situation and Nigeria suffers under the burden of mounting insecurity that challenges the DSS to its wit’s end.