In recent times, journalists and lawyers have been arrested and detained on slightest presumed utterances or publication that may have arose out of investigation.
Reacting to this worrisome development, a human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has slammed the Nigerian Army and Police over unlawful arrest and detention of Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist with Foundation for Investigative Journalism ( FIJ ) . and a human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Deji believed that the military and police has become defocused from their statutory duty of protecting territorial integrity and combating oil theft to harassing and arresting journalists illegally.
He reminded the Police and Military that the work of journalists is to hold government office holders to account for their deeds.
Deji stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, describing the arrest of an investigative journalist Soyombo an affront on his sacred duty which he published a report on oil bunkering, adding that the military should come clean on oil bunkering and vandalism rather than intimidating journalists who dared to expose the theft of Nigerian oil.
He urged the military authority to probe activities of military men in oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
“We have been saying this for years now that crude oil theft is not possible without the collusion of state actors. You know, just recently, Tompolo himself said that the Navy is complicit, you know, and our country and our economy is battling and struggling.
“It’s important that we holistically, especially the government of President Tinubu, commit to fighting crude oil theft in the country and that journalists like Fisayo must be protected at all costs to do their job to expose corruption and to do reporting as they so fit without any form of harassment.
“Many of us are keenly looking forward to the revelations of the ongoing investigation by Fisayo Soinbo, despite the fact that his investigation has been jeopardised by the military.
“Also in this, on our end, we had written a petition against crude oil theft in the country several months ago, especially early this year. But up to today nothing has been done,” he said.
Adeyanju also kicked against the arrest of lawyer and rights activist, Dele Farotimi, who was picked up on allegations of defamation against foremost lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola.
He said if Babalola felt defamed, he should explore available legal channels to address his grievance instead of getting Farotimi arrested.
He cautioned the police against being used by influential people for their personal interests. He cautioned against abuse of power and office.
“I am therefore making a passionate appeal that these incessant arrests by security agencies, especially the police, will continue to make the human rights index rating of Nigeria to be extremely very bad. The president of Nigeria should give an executive order restraining the police from getting involved in civil disputes such as defamation.
“The Nigerian police and other security agencies like the DSS will have the trust and respect of all Nigerians at home and abroad. And that this will improve the human rights rating of the country,” he said.
He also urged opposition parties in the country to live up to their responsibility of holding the government of the day accountable.
“it is unfortunate and regrettable that as of today, there appears to be a nonexistence of the opposition political parties. A situation where key issues, key decisions of government are not being challenged at all by the opposition political parties sends the message that the opposition is completely in bed with the government in power.
“I have said this time and time again that the only way Nigeria will progress is if we have a credible opposition. That is the beauty of democracy. What strengthens democracy and the tenets of democracy is when the opposition is up and doing and it’s a life to its responsibilities,” he said.
Adeyanju also condemned the invasion and forceful demolition of a property belong to one Prophetess Esther Anthony Higher Favour of International Church Asokoro by the FCT Joint Task Force.
The property was said to have located at a recreational park near the house of the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike in Guzape.
She alleged the task force stormed the park on the instruction of the Minister and destroyed everything on sight and reallocated the landed property of about 1.3 hectares to his cronies.
