A pro-democracy organisation, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC) has urged frontline defenders of human rights and the judiciary to remain undaunted as “Nigeria slides into a police state.”
While condemning “the increasing harassment and intimidation of critics and perceived enemies of the Buhari-Osinbajo regime,” the group in a statement by its Convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, tasked Nigerians “never to bow or concede the country to tyranny and despotism.”
“We must continue to encourage a few frontline defenders of human rights left in our troubled nation, like the irrepressible Mike Ozekhome SAN and some courageous Judex, to remain resolute in defending and protecting the rights of the oppressed.
“While our friend and comrade, Deji Adeyanju was languishing in an illegal detention in Kano prison, induced by the Buhari-Osinbajo regime, the fearless and kindhearted Mike Ozekhome SAN, may God bless his soul and profound wisdom, took it upon himself to defend him pro bono.
“The government of Buhari-Osinbajo is incapable of playing fairly and tolerating dissenting views, Deji Adeyanju has not done a quarter of what prominent individuals in the APC did while in opposition via the social media and protests to get get to power, but they have now desperately elected to gag every outspoken critic.
“We are not unaware that the regime is doing everything to keep in perpetuity in prison custody, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, one of Nigeria’s leading civil rights activists and a strong critic of the government, including arm-twisting the judiciary to delay the matter until after the elections.
“As a matter of concern, we consider it very strange that an FCT High Court, could attempt to vary or withhold a valid order granted on 28 December, 2018 for the immediate release of Deji Adeyanju from Police custody.
“We are troubled that an enrollment order that ought to have been made available to the plaintiff innocuously, irrespective of whatever information that was later available to the court and which were not backed by any affidavit, is now a subject of another ruling to determine wether the court can vary or still release such order.
“The only thing we can do at this point is to urge the judiciary to remain undaunted and resolute in defending those who seek fairness, justice and protection from the onslaught of the fascists in the land, because just one day, this government will become history and the judiciary will outlive them.
“History will remember the Buhari-Osinbajo administration as a regime that protects with policemen party loyalists and people wanted by various courts for criminal offences, while Deji Adeyanju and the Senator Dino Melaye are repeatedly persecuted,” the statement added.
