The late Mike Wali who turned 63 on 21st August, 2019, died
after a brief illness on Friday, 8th November, 2019,
TheNigerialawyer gathered.
The EBF Governor, S. Long Williams, in company of Okey Leo
Ohagba (Fmr NBA Asst. Gen. Secretary), Peter Ayogu, Promise Iwezor
& others paid a condolence visit recently to the learned Silk’s
country at his country home in Rumuoalogu, Portharcourt over his
bereavement.
Burial arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.
TheNigerialawyer(TNL) commiserates with the learned Silk and his
family on this bereavement and pray God to grant eternal rest to
the deceased.
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SERAP writes Archbishop of Canterbury, Buhari’s Friend
over Sowore’s case
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has
sent an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd
Justin Portal Welby urging him to use his good offices and
leadership and his “friendship with President Muhammadu Buhari to
prevail on him to obey court orders most recently involving
activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare who remain in arbitrary
detention despite a court order for their release.”
SERAP expressed “serious concerns about the disturbing trends by
state governments and federal government to use the court as a tool
to suppress citizens’ human rights.”
In the letter dated 11 November 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy
director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “We believe you
can use your leadership position and influence to persuade
President Buhari to promote the rule of law in words and in action
by obeying all court orders including the order for the releasing
of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention.”
SERAP also said, “As the senior bishop and principal leader of
the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican
Communion, we believe you can reaffirm your belief in justice, rule
of law and the basic human rights of all people by speaking out
with a strong voice against the repeated disobedience of court
orders and the implicitly lack of respect by the government for the
integrity and authority of the Nigerian judiciary.”
The letter read in part: “Taking a stance on the issues of the
rule of law and respect for court orders in Nigeria will also
contribute to ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law
by the 36 state governments in Nigeria, as these governments seem
to be taking their cue from the federal authorities regarding
disobedience of court orders.”
“Journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare are
facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud,
cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, simply for
exercising their human rights. Mr Sowore, was arrested on August 3
by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for planning a
protest.”
“Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Sowore and Bakare bail but the
security agents have continued to refuse to release them despite
being served with the court orders. This refusal implicitly
violates the defendants’ constitutional rights to presumption of
innocence.”
“We therefore respectfully call on you to speak out on the
repeated disobedience of court orders by the government of
President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him to obey all court orders
including the orders for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare
from arbitrary detention.”
Specifically, SERAP asked Most Revd Justin Portal Welby to:
• Clearly and publicly condemn lack of respect for the rule of
law and court orders in Nigeria
• Call for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from detention
as ordered by the court
• Call for greater legal protections for human rights activists
and journalists in Nigeria who are simply exercising their right to
freedom of expression and working to hold their leaders to
account.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director