Sowore: SERAP Transmits Letter to Archbishop of Canterbury

• SERAP asked Welby to clearly and publicly condemn lack of respect for the rule of law and court orders.
• SERAP expressed serious concerns about the disturbing trends by state governments and federal government.

Human rights and anti-corruption group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Justin Wendy urging him to use his good offices and  friendship with President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on him to obey court orders most recently involving activists Revolution Now Protest convener, Omoyele Sowore and his counterpart, Olawale Bakare.

The duo remains in arbitrary detention despite a court order for their release. They have met their bail conditions.

SERAP in the letter expressed serious concerns about the disturbing trends by state governments and federal government to use the court as a tool to suppress citizens’ human rights.”

READ: You Lied, We Waited in Vain to Receive Sowore And Bakare, Falana Faults DSS’ Claim

In the letter dated 11 November, 2019 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization believes that Welby can use  his leadership position and influence to persuade President Buhari to promote the rule of law in words and in action by obeying all court orders including the order for the releasing of  Sowore and Bakare from arbitrary detention.

“As the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we believe you can reaffirm your belief in justice, rule of law and the basic human rights of all people by speaking out with a strong voice against the repeated disobedience of court orders and the implicitly lack of respect by the government for the integrity and authority of the Nigerian judiciary,” it said.

SERAP further noted that taking a stance on the issues of the rule of law and respect for court orders in Nigeria will also contribute to ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law by the 36 state governments in Nigeria. It also noted that it looks like the governments seem to be taking their cue from the federal authorities regarding disobedience of court orders.

“Journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare are facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, simply for exercising their human rights. Mr Sowore, was arrested on August 3 by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for planning a protest.

“Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Sowore and Bakare bail but the security agents have continued to refuse to release them despite being served with the court orders. This refusal implicitly violates the defendants’ constitutional rights to presumption of innocence.

“We therefore respectfully call on you to speak out on the repeated disobedience of court orders by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him to obey all court orders including the orders for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from arbitrary detention,” part of the letter reads.

READ: DSS Confirms Receiving Court Order, Says No One Has Come to Pick Sowore

SERAP also asked Welby to clearly and publicly condemn lack of respect for the rule of law and court orders in Nigeria and called for the release of Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare from detention as ordered by the court.

The group also called for greater legal protections for human rights activists and journalists in Nigeria who are simply exercising their right to freedom of expression and working to hold their leaders to account.