Fayose is Same As Uganda’s Idi Amin – Femi Falana
accused of slapping a judge
Nigeria's human rights lawyer, Femi Falana,
has called on the acting Inspector-General of
Police, Suleiman Abba, to "arrest and
prosecute without any delay" those who
invaded an Ado Ekiti High Court, beat up a
Judge, and violated the Court of Justice.
Falana blamed the Ekiti state governor-elect,
Ayodele Fayose for the sacrilege committed
against the state judiciary.
In a statement released today, Falana said:
"This is a reminder of the Idi Amin era in
Uganda when judges were killed while
discharging judicial functions," he said.
"In my reaction to the outcome of the Ekiti
state governorship election held on June 21,
2014 , I expressed the view that the Ekiti
people had gone back to Egypt. The mayhem
unleashed on a high court judge, lawyers and
litigants in the precinct of the Ekiti State High
Court sitting at Ado Ekiti on Monday,
September, 23, 2014 by a gang of hired
hoodlums has confirmed that the Ekiti
people have fully returned to the wilderness.
"As the thugs were not brought to book they
regrouped this morning and launched
another attack on the High Court. In the
process Justice Isaac Adeyeye was beaten up
while the car of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, a
former President of the Nigerian Bar
Association was destroyed. Other judges and
lawyers ran for dear lives.
"Thus, by desecrating the temple of Justice
with the connivance of the Police the armed
lumpen elements left no one in doubt that
they have the full backing of the ruling party
in executing the premeditated onslaught on
the judiciary.
Femi Falana
He noted that: "So far, those who
perpetrated the barbaric attack and their
sponsors have admitted their ignoble role
through public statements issued by them.
The Ekiti state governor-elect, Mr. Ayo
Fayose has justified the shameful attack on
the rule of law in Ekiti State by saying that his
election cannot be challenged in court. This is
a reminder of the Idi Amin era in Uganda
when judges were killed while discharging
judicial functions. Mr. Fayose and his thugs
should not be allowed to kill judges and
lawyers before calling him to order.
"Since the Ekiti State police command is
completely compromised the Acting
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman
Abbah is called upon to ensure that all the
assailants are arrested and prosecuted
without any delay.
He then urged Ekiti people to ensure that the
truth of the matter is uncovered. "Any
attempt to cover up the brazen contempt of
court should be resisted by the Attorney-
General of Ekiti State, Mr. Wale Fapounda
who should take decisive measures to bring
the criminals to book. Let no one politicize
the criminality of those who are bent on
replacing the rule of law with rule of force in
Ekiti State. The Federal Government ought to
distance itself from the shameless display of
brute force by an in-coming governor Ekiti
state.
"In view of the duty imposed on the Nigerian
Bar Association to defend the rule of law and
protect judges and lawyers the leadership of
the Bar in Ekiti State and at the national level
should mount pressure on the Police
Authorities to fish out those who beat up a
judge, chased judges and lawyers out of the
Ekiti State High Court.
"Even under the defunct military junta
judges were never subjected to physical
assault over their decisions. Hence, in Garba
v Federal Civil Service Commision (1998) 1
NWLR (PT 70) 449 it was held by the Supreme
Court (per Eso J.S.C.) that:
"The military in coming to power is usually
faced with the question as to whether to
establish a rule of law or rule of force. While
the latter could be justifiable a rule of
terror, once the path of law is chosen the
mighty arm of government, the militia which
is an embodiment of legislature and
executive must in humility bow to the rule of
law thus permitted to exist.
"The rule of law knows no fear, it is never
cowed down, it can only be silenced. But
once it is not silenced by the only arm that
can silence it, it must be accepted in full
confidence to be able to justify its existence,"
his statement read.
.
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