Dr. Folorunsho Hussein is a renowned private legal practitioner and
Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He
speaks with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI on failure of
Federal Government to release Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Leader of
Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakzaky. Excerpts:
Many political players in Nigeria have been emphasizing on
restructuring system as a way of enhancing the nation’s economy, what
is your take on this issue?
I may not outrightly go with that philosophy especially with the
aspect of selling our things. Looking at what we’ve sold in the past,
what is the gain? With electricity system we sold, we have continued
not having light, nothing has come out of it…
On the issue of Col. Sambo Dasuki and El-zakzaky, courts have granted
them bail but the executive refused to let them go, why is their case
different?
I agree with Buhari when he said deviation from the rule of law in the
protection of territorial integrity of Nigeria. I agree that the
security of this country is very sacrosanct and it should be given
preference over the observance of the so called rule of law. That is
my take. Somebody that if released will cause chaos, is better kept in
custody. For instance, a Boko Haram leader is arrested and a court
grants him bail, will anybody tell this country that he should be
allowed to go to his house because the court has granted him bail?
(Cuts in…) but their cases are different…
Because court has granted leader of Boko Haram bail, so, he should be
allowed to go? What is then the deference between leader of Boko Haram
and El-zakzaky? They are the same.
Are you then supporting disobedience to court pronouncements?
The Federal Government has reasons for not releasing them. I want us
to take note that at the beginning of that case, Amnesty International
was making noise about it. They’ve kept quiet now, perhaps, they’ve
seen reasons these people should not be released. International
Community, United States of America, the self acclaimed Champion of
human rights are not making any issue out of it again. Iraq that is
supporting El-Zakzaky, that country cannot allow the group to do two
per cent of what they did in Nigeria there without being wiped out.
The security of this country is of paramount importance, that is why
these people have not been allowed to go.
Would it not be appropriate for the present government to avail the
public with reasons El-zakzaky and Dasuki are still in detention…?
No one is demanding the reasons from the government, there are legally
backed reasons for their continued detention. Attorney General should
be asked to make those reasons available. In fact, he can be dragged
to court just to get those reasons but no one has asked, people were
just making noise, protesting over the issue.
