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LAGOS – A civil society organisation, #Endbadgovernance Movement, Lagos State, chapter, has condemned the revocation of the bail of Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), by Justice M.G. Umar and his detention in Kuje prisons.
In a statement issued in Lagos at the weekend, the group demanded the immediate withdrawal of all criminal charges against Sowore and a halt to what it termed “clearly and without doubt a politically-motivated trial”.
The statement, which was signed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Oloye Adegboyega-Adeniji for and on behalf of the Organising Committee, the group also denounced what it said was “a shameful conduct of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)”.
It stressed that the DSS operatives’ attempt to whisk away Sowore from the courtroom, was in violation of the order of the court remanding him in prison custody.
The group stated: “It is our opinion that Justice M.G. Umar’s conduct throughout the ongoing trial of Omoyele Sowore, raises serious concerns regarding judicial impartiality and respect for due process.
“When a judge has become the subject of widespread allegations of bias and his courtroom an avenue for reckless trampling on citizens’ rights including members of the bar, the appropriate and honourable thing is for such a judge to recuse himself.
“Justice is impossible where a judge’s impartiality is evidently compromised. To this extent, we call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to direct Justice M.G. Umar to step aside from the handling of this matter in the interest of justice.
“In conclusion, we would like to warn that continued attacks on democratic rights and persecution of activists cannot stop the Nigerian people from rising up to demand a change in the way the country is run.
“It is only a matter of time before the rising anger and frustration felt by millions of Nigerians explodes onto the street in mass protests and demonstrations.”
