Falana writes Osinbajo over continued detention of Dasuki, El-Zakzaky, others

Femi Falana SAN, a human rights lawyer, has challenged the Acting
President, Yemi Osinbajo to stop what he termed the flagrant
disobedience to court orders which has characterised the current
administration.

He made the call while expressing disappointment at the refusal of the
Attorney General of the Federation, AGF Abubakar Malami to obey court
orders and release former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo
Dasuki, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem
El-Zakzakky, among others.

In a letter entitled, 'Request to end disobedience of court orders by
all authorities and persons', Falana said, "It is common knowledge
that the AGF, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that Col Sambo Dasuki
(retd.); Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky; and his wife, Hajia Zenab
Elzakzaky, would not be released from custody in defiance of the valid
and subsisting orders of municipal and regional courts.

"While the attention of the print and electronic media has been
focused on the three privileged citizens, it is hardly realised that
there are many other common people who are languishing in custody due
to official disobedience of the orders of courts which have set them
free.

"And since judgment creditors are prohibited from levying execution on
the funds belonging to the government without the fiat of the AGF, the
Federal Government and the various state governments usually refuse to
authorise the payment of damages running to several billions of naira
awarded by courts in favour of many citizens and institutions.

"But notwithstanding the illegality of my detention and the fact that
it was Gen. Buhari that had promulgated the decree, I was able to
convince my colleagues in the human rights community to demand his
release and that of his deputy, the late General Tunde Idiagbon from
detention.

"It is on record that based on our intervention, the Ibrahim Babangida
junta released the duo after three years of detention without trial.

"We urge Your Excellency to take urgent and decisive measures to put
an end to the disobedience to court orders by many public officers and
institutions. Since section 287 of the constitution has imposed a
binding obligation on all authorities and persons in Nigeria to comply
with the decisions of competent courts, public officers who subvert
the rule of law ought to be sanctioned.

"Furthermore, in view of the fact that President Buhari is the current
chairman of ECOWAS, the Federal Government should show leadership by
example by complying with all the judgments of the regional courts
without any further delay."