Affront on The Rule of Law

The increasing disobedience to court orders is putting our
democracy under unprecedented pressure

With the brazen invasion on Friday of a Federal High Court in
Abuja by hooded men of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), the
basic symptoms of incipient fascism are becoming manifest in
Nigeria. The harassment of a sitting judge and the abduction from
the court room of a citizen smell of a creeping authoritarianism.
Not even under the worst military dictatorships did our country
descend so low. Viewed within the context of habitual disobedience
to court orders by the current administration, Nigerians have cause
to worry as arrogance of power is fast becoming a substitute for
governance.

To the extent that the system of government that we practice
does not allow the person at the helm the luxury of ignorance in
matters of grave national security, President Muhammadu Buhari must
take responsibility for what happened inside the Federal High Court
on Friday. For a leader who has benefited greatly from democracy
despite his unedifying background as a military leader, Nigerians
expect from this president a higher level of commitment to the rule
of law and respect for the principles of separation of powers.

The crude abduction of Omoyele Sowore within the precincts of
the court is only an additional symbolic episode on the continuing
violations of the critical institutions of state. The invasion last
year of the National Assembly by hooded goons of the same DSS, the
plot to gag the social media and condemn citizens to death for
speaking to the prevalent hate generated by a divisive government,
the continued disobedience to court orders, etc., are the
footprints of an autocracy hurrying to take root. But the sordid
episode that seeks to emasculate the judiciary points to the
clearest danger. Armed goons invading a court in session cannot be
at the service of a free society. More seriously, the deployment of
security agents to pursue regime specific agenda belongs to the
realm of flagrant abuse of office. The hallmark of every banana
republic is the privatisation of security institutions to serve the
individual agenda of the autocrat at the pinnacle of state
power.

In a recent statement on the conduct of the DSS regarding
Sowore’s continued detention, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka
lamented that there is a “mission to enthrone a pattern of conduct
that openly scoffs at the role of the judiciary in national life”
and “a steady entrenchment of the cult of impunity in the dealings
of state with the citizenry – both individuals and organizations”.
He, however, warns of the consequences of such action even when
there is no sign that the authorities care. What is more worrisome
is that, apparently taking a cue from the federal government, some
governors have also started circumscribing the rights of citizens
with the arrest of those who criticise them who are then
incarcerated for weeks before being charged to court in their
states for terrorism.

To worsen matters, political office holders who swore to uphold
the law now pick and choose which court order to obey and which
ones to ignore. This bodes ill for our democracy. Even under
colonial and military regimes, the country was governed by
ordinances or decrees which the rulers were compelled to obey.
Whenever there was a material departure from such laws, the courts
never hesitated to call public officers to order. But at no time in
the history of Nigeria has any government openly justified
disobedience of court orders under the pretext of defending
national security, as it has become the norm under President
Buhari.

By the tenets and letters of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), government, at all
levels, shall be administered on the basis of the rule of law. In
addition, all authorities and persons shall obey the valid and
subsisting orders of courts. When the most fundamental element and
requirement of democracy, which is the rule of law, is thrashed, we
all have no recourse against the tyrant’s jackboots. And when you
remove freedom from democracy, all that remains is a political
shell with rituals. That’s why all democratic forces should join
hands to resist the egregious erosion of freedom and justice in
Nigeria. Before it is too late!

Quote
By the tenets and letters of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria (as amended), government, at all levels, shall
be administered on the basis of the rule of law

Culled from Thisday Editorial

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NAF Enhances Medical Casualty Evacuation

In its bid to reduce casualty mortality rate at the point of
injury and increase patient survivability during transport, the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in partnership with the Office of
Security Cooperation of the United States Department of Defence
(OSC US DOD) has trained personnel on Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC)
as part of a 4-Phased Aerial Patient Movement Programme. The
rigorous training, now in its third phase, was conducted at the 063
NAF Hospital, NAF Base Abuja and was aimed at further enhancing the
capacity of NAF personnel to provide effective aeromedical
evacuation and advanced life support services within Operation
LAFIYA DOLE and other Theatres of Operation across the country.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
who was represented at the closing ceremony of the third phase of
the training, on 6 December 2019, by the Director of Operations
Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Idi Lubo, stated that the
training was also aimed at developing the NAF’s capacity in Flight
Medicine and Aerial Movement whilst improving interoperability with
ground troops in various theatres. He said it was also a part of
the NAF’s efforts to enhance the capacity of its medical personnel
to be more effective and efficient in the performance of their
duties. According to him, “the NAF has embarked on massive
upgrading of NAF Medical facilities across the country, in
addition, medical personnel have been enlisted and recruited into
the Service to man these facilities. To enhance professional
performance of the personnel, they undergo robust and result
oriented training; one of such programmes is the Aerial Patient
Movement Training”, he said. The CAS therefore urged the
participants to make the most of the training with a view to
applying the knowledge gained to save lives, thereby boosting
troops’ morale.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Medical Services, who was
represented by the Director Clinical Services, Air Commodore
Adedoyin Oyenusi, stated that the CAS had paid significant
attention to the general welfare of NAF personnel through several
strategies, including the upgrading of NAF Medical facilities
across the country as well as the enhancement of the quality of
healthcare services provided to personnel and their families. He
disclosed that the Aerial Patient Movement Training has helped to
increase the pool of NAF medical personnel available for medical
evacuation missions.

During the training, the 45 participants, drawn from both NAF
and the Nigerian Army, acquired lifesaving first-aid skills in
addition to familiarizing themselves with techniques to properly
load patients on helicopters and care for them in-flight. NAF
helicopter pilots were also trained by US instructors on how to
effectively plan and execute CASEVAC missions. Highlights of the
closing ceremony included practical demonstration of CASEVAC of
injured troops using a NAF EC-135 Helicopter as well as
presentation of certificates to all participants and presentation
of awards to participants who distinguished themselves on the
course.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force