NBA calls for immediate release of Dasuki, El-Zakzakky

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Federal Government to without delay release the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

NBA president, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), made this call when he addressed newsmen in Abuja on Monday, describing the continued detention of the two men by President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government as unjustifiable.

“The NBA wishes to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to continually demonstrate religious adherence to the tenets of constitutional democracy. In this regard the NBA is appalled at the continued detention of certain individuals in blatant disobedience to court orders.

“Amongst these individuals are Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife and also Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser. Whilst we recognise the serious the charges on which these individuals are held, we nevertheless view their continued detention as unjustified and contrary to the express court orders.

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“We call on the government to without further delay respect these orders,” he said.

Different court rulings have ordered for the release of both men who have been in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) for about two years.

However, the court orders have fallen on deaf ears as Nigeria’s secret police has refused to release them.
The NBA president went further to say, “In the same vein, in the wake of the arrest and detention of certain judicial officers by the DSS, the NBA had taken the view that the judges affected should recuse themselves from judicial functions until the investigations and outcome of those investigations were determined, we note that nearly eight months after those investigations were launched, there are some of the judges, who have not been prosecuted or charged before any court of law.

“This situation is completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable. The NBA calls on the government to terminate the investigations against those judges to enable them to resume their work as judicial officials.”

On Federal Government’s corruption fight, the NBA faulted the strategy so far adopted and said there is immediate need to review the strategy with attention focused at strengthening existing investigating and prosecuting agencies.

“It is no longer news that there is endemic corruption in Nigeria. The issue is how we are fighting it. While the current efforts by anti-corruption agencies are commendable, it is important to note that the present framework, which is in place for anti-corruption crusade, is defective in structure and does not make for effectiveness of these agencies.

“The NBA still believes that a lot needs to be done in improving the general institutional framework for the fight against corruption.

“Though some successes have been scored, especially following the whistle-blowing policy of the government, it must be remembered that reliance on this whistle-blowing itself is a signal to the overall weakness of policing and anti-crime agencies.

“The NBA therefore calls for more investment in the development of the capacity of anti-corruption agencies. The NBA also calls for greater demonstration of commitment and synergy between the various branches of government,” he said.

Mahmoud also emphasised on the need for the executive and the legislature to work in harmony saying, “As it is, there is clear dissonance between the executive and the legislative branches. A situation where the branches of government are unable to agree on the leadership of a key agency of government, such as the EFCC, is not only unfortunate but highly regrettable.

“This exposes our country to ridicule and questions the commitment of our leaders to the fight against corruption. We call on both the legislature and the executive, to as a matter of urgency, address the lingering issue of the leadership of the EFCC.

“The NBA also calls on all agencies of government involved in the criminal justice sector to demonstrate a greater level of cooperation and synergy.”

Mahmoud’s address came just as Acting President Osinbajo in his Democracy Day broadcast blamed the hitches in the fight against graft on weak justice system in the country.

 

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