OAIKHENA OSAGIE (KSP) CANDIDATE FOR WELFARE SECRETARY THANKS THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP, ON THE RELEASE OF P. I. AWOKE: LIKE , OLIVER TWIST ASK FOR DECISIVE ACTION AGAINST THE SSS AND URGES JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES TO VISIT DETENTION FACILITIES REGULARLY AS ENVISAGED BY THE ACJA:
Dear Eminent Colleagues,
I must first thank the Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, led by our own President, Y.C Maikayu (SAN), in securing the release of our own P.I Awoke Esq.
In truth the NBA Leadership acted in a manner likened to the swiftness of a cheetah in securing the release of P.I AWOKE ESQ. However the fight against injustice is not about P .I Awoke Esq, alone. This recklessness by security agencies must stop forthwith. As a progressive Bar man, I call on our Judges and Magistrates to utilize the provisions , of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , which mandates them to visit detention facilities and release on bail citizens detained beyond the constitutional limit.
The unlawful detention of our Colleague must be blamed on the failure of the system. It must be blamed on the Magistrate who failed to do his/her duty , it must be blamed on the SSS who failed to inform the Attorney General of the number of detained persons in their facilities, it must be blamed on those who do not respect the laws and constitution of Nigeria . The fundamental rights of a citizen must be all towering. It is not a contract that can be negotiated, it cannot even be subjected to ADR. We are fast becoming a Hobbesian State, where life is short , nasty and brutish.
Except P.I AWOKE ESQ, was detained by an Order of Court, which is most unlikely, I call on the Bar to scape – goat someone somewhere, this unlawful detention must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.
We must not always wait on the Elected Leadership of the NBA, we have our own role to play as ministers in the Temple of Justice. I therefore like Charles Dickens , Oliver Twist, ask for more, with my additional plea that those persons involved in the violation of the Fundamental Rights of our Colleague, must be sanctioned for abusing their office (s) the Fundamental Rights of our Colleague must be enforced in court with their names written in the Hall of shame.
This dirty mold was not only sprinkled on the dignity of P.I AWOKE ESQ alone ,but on every Nigerian. Article 10 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, provides thus ” it is essential, if a man is not compelled to have recourse as a last resort to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law”.
I therefore call for a more collective action, in defence of the rule of law.
Yours Truly,
•Sir Oaikhena Osagie, candidate for the office of National Welfare Secretary of the NBA.