Pilot Law

CURRENT ISSUESL: El-Zakzaky, Dasuki continued detention, justifiable – Saddam

 

Dr. Folorunsho Hussein popularly called Saddam is a renowned private legal practitioner and a law lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. In this interview with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI on the continued detention of Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakzaky by the Buhari led government. Excerpts:

Many political players in Nigeria have been harping on the restructuring of the nation’s system as a way of improving its 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? The electricity system we sold, we continued not having light, nothing came out of it… We need to narrow the restructuring down to certain areas so that we can have a focus of purpose, we can know what we want and how we can get it.
On the issue of Col. Dasuki  and El-Zakzaky, whom courts have granted bail but the executive have refused to obey the order, why is their case different? 
I agree with Buhari when he supported 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 caused chaos, is better kept in prison. For instance, a Boko Haram leader is arrested and a court grants him bail, would people allow him to stay in his house because court has granted him bail? There are some issues that are special in nature and must be treated with the speciality. The government is more concerned about what could be the consequences of their release. We need to be careful and security conscious following the insurgency challenges we’re having of late.
(cut 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 deferent 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 notice that at the beginning of that case, Amnesty International made noise about it. They’ve kept quiet now, perhaps, they’ve seen reasons why 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 percent of what they’ve done in Nigeria there without wiping them out. The security of this country is of paramount importance, that is why these people have not been freed.
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 are just making noise, protesting the issue.

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