The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) said there is an
attempt to silence the voice of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana.
On Wednesday, a group, Save Nigeria Movement, had asked Falana to stop
intimidating security agencies.
During its rally in Abuja, the group displayed banners with
inscriptions such as โFalana stop blackmailing Nigerian militaryโ and
โFalana enough is enoughโ.
But in a statement yesterday, CDHR National President, Osagie
Obayuwana, condemned the protest against the lawyer.
He said the action of the protesters shows that they were sponsored in
an attempt to silence Falana.
โFrom all indications, the group was set up solely for the purpose and
their expressed aim โTo defend Nigeriaโs Security Agencies from
intimidation by Falanaโ speaks volumes as to who their funders are.
Even while we recognize that there is hunger in the land, it is
detestable that there are Nigerians available these days for hire, to
do such a dirty job,โ the statement read.
โHow on earth can it be said that Mr. Femi Falana by virtue of his
pronouncements out of Court and submissions before judges can
intimidate the DSS and the Army, to such an extent that these agencies
now need protection?โ
Counsel of Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement,
Falana, has been critical of Nigerian security agencies over cases of
abuses and disregard for the rule of law.
Obayuwana said it is worrisome that the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari is โadopting a similar approach of silencing voicesโ,
used during the government of Sani Abacha, former military head of
state.
โIt is highly regrettable that decades after Nigeriaโs experience with
the Abacha inglorious regime, where citizens were killed by State
Agents for the opinions they expressed, and hirelings urged the killer
regime on by proclaiming that Abacha is the one the cap fits, we seem
to be witnessing the erection of such a foundation,โ he said.
โThat Abacha and his choristers all ended up in the dustbin of history
is now a matter of record. With the so-called Movement to Save
Nigeria, we see these ominous signs coming unto the horizon, under a
government that proclaims to be democratic.โ
CDHR called on the protesters to โpublicly explain how consistent with
their name, they wish to save Nigeria by protecting the security
agencies and silencing the voice of reasonโ.
It also asked the Department of State Services, the inspector general
of police, and the minister of defence to publicly dissociate
themselves from this group, if they have no hand in its establishment
and funding.
