Lawyer says DSS will clampdown on media next

chika ebuzor

October 9, 2016 1:48 PM

Ozekhome said this in reaction to the arrest of some judges by the DSS on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome has said the Department of State Services (DSS) will clampdown on the media soon.

Ozekhome said this in reaction to thearrest of some judges by the DSS on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

A cross section of lawyers have condemned the action of the security agency, describing it as a way of intimidating the judiciary.

Speaking further on the DSS actions, Ozekhome also said “I am not surprised. I am rather surprised that some Nigerians are still surprised. Some of us warned, wrote, preached and talked. But, we were ignored due to political partisanship. A leopard cannot change its spots. It started with political opponents and the opposition. Some of us cried out. Then, they moved against some very senior and well-respected lawyers. Some clapped.

“They said it was anti-corruption. We cried out. It extended quickly to the National Assembly, another arm of government. Many described the government as tough, no-nonsense and anti-corruption-inclined. Some of us warned. Now, it is the judiciary. Up to the very apex court of the land, the Supreme Court, has been targeted and is now being intimidated and humiliated.

“Virtually all the judges are southerners. My prediction is that the media will be the next. The recent onslaught against the judiciary signals great danger to our democracy, freedom, human rights, independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers as espoused in 1748 by the great French philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu.

“We are supposed to be operating a constitutional democracy, not military dictatorship or tyrannical absolutism. Governor Wike was almost shot dead by fully armed DSS operatives. His “offence” was that he came to rescue a Federal High Court judge who was being abducted. Other serving judges, who would ordinarily respond to a mere phone call, are being humiliated and rounded up in the ungodly hours of the night, like common criminals.”

Governor Nyesom Wike was reportedly harassed while trying to stop DSS operatives from arresting a Federal High Court judge in Rivers state.

chika ebuzor