A – pro good governance and human rights initiative – Make A Difference (MAD) has condemned the early morning siege laid on the residences of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu by security operatives.
MAD described the action of the security operatives as “an unwarranted show of force and unconstitutiona” as it has only shown that it has adjudged Saraki and Ekwerenmadu guilty of whatever crime without a judicial pronouncement.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of the Initiative, Lemmy Ughegbe, he noted every citizen’s right to the presumption of innocence as provided by the Constitution, insisting that “the Gestapo man of their action this morning was akin to an effort to catch a convicted criminal in flight.”
“We are aware that the Senate President was invited by the Police to come today to clarify some issues relating to the offa bank robbery”, Ughegbe noted.
He said “the police should have waited to see if Saraki would honour the invitation or not, stating that “the commando fashion by the police and other security agencies laying siege on his residence amounted to lawlessness.”
“Our constitution presumes everyone innocent until a court of law pronouces otherwise. The police and other security agencies cannot usurp judicial powers and are hereby called to order”, the Executive Director stated.
He called on President Muhammad Buhari to immediately call the Police and all security agencies to other to safeguard the country’s democracy.
“Buhari must rise to the challenge of statesmanship and eschew politics and party bickering and do that which is right and that is to allow all arms of government operate without intimidation by anyone”, he urged.
He warned that “if Buhari fails to check this anti-democratic and brazenly lawless actions of the security forces, Nigeria democracy may be endangered.”
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