Court Order Against COAS, Others Invitation to Chaos, Coalition Declares
- The recent court orders against high ranking security chiefs in the country has been described as a distraction
- The Coalition for Truth and Justice the pronouncements by the court are a mockery of Nigeria's judicial system
- According to them, such distractions do not augur well for the efforts at addressing the security challenges in the country
FCT, Abuja - The Coalition for Truth and Justice has condemned the court order against Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Yahaya Faruk, and other heads of security agencies.
The group described the trend as an invitation to chaos and if not checked, will distract the security agencies from their constitutional duties.
Source: Facebook
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, December 2 in Abuja, national president, Barrister Timothy Charles, said the speed with which these pronouncements were made is suspect and a reason to tread carefully at this critical point of our existence.
His words:
PAY ATTENTION: Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG!
“A situation where various courts in the country would issue orders remanding heads of security agencies in prison custody is indeed a mockery of our judicial system.
“The judicial arm of government must come to terms with the reality on the ground to understand that such actions can heat the polity and make the country a laughing stock before the international community.
“We recall that the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was ordered to be remanded in prison custody for failing to obey court orders even though the reason for the declaration was flimsy and defeats common sense.
“The recent order for the arrest of the Chief of Army Staff by a Federal High Court sitting in Minna Niger state again brings to the fore the attempt at undermining heads of security agencies in the country.
“It is more worrisome that the court ordered that the Chief of Army Staff be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of court order on October 12, 2022, adding that the COAS is to remain in custody till he has been purged of the contempt.
“Our considered opinion is an invitation for chaos and the more reason why the judicial arm of government must be circumspect in issuing orders that amount to a systematic embarrassment of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff.”
The group wondered if the courts have now become a medium with which enemies of Nigeria intend to use to distract the head of security agencies in the country.
According to them, such distractions do not augur well for the efforts at addressing the security challenges in the country.
The group further said:
“This is indeed an act of judicial rascality that stakeholders must discourage due to the consequences of such actions in the polity.
“The judiciary must wake up from this slumber at the risk of being accused of assisting criminal elements to distract and destabilize our security agencies.”
The group, therefore, described the actions of the judiciary as not only embarrassing but counterproductive, especially in the face of security threats capable of bringing the country to its knees.
Court sends Chief of Army Staff General Faruk Yahaya to prison
Legit.ng had earler reported that Justice Halima Abdulmalik of the high court in Minna, Niger state, ordered the arrest of the Chief of Army Staff, General Faruk Yahaya.
The judge also ordered that the Commandant Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Olugbenga Olabanji, be arrested.
Justice Halima ruled against the top military chiefs for contempt of the court and ordered that they should be kept in prison until they purge themselves of the contempt.
Contempt: How court sentenced IGP Usman Baba, EFCC chairman Bawa to prison
In a similar development, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, recently sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.
The judge issued the order following a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli, who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.
Similarly, Justice Chizoba Oji of a High Court Abuja convicted the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for contempt and ordered that he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Source: Legit.ng
