45-day Detention Order On Sowore: A New Phase Of Conscription Of Democratic Space In Nigeria – Afenifere

Afenifere on Thursday declared that the 45-day detention order granted the Department of State Services (DSS) by a Federal High Court on Omoyele Sowore represents a new phase in the orchestrated conscription of the democratic space in Nigeria.

The pan-Yoruba group which stated this while reacting to the Court order, said that it is aware of that obnoxious provision in the Terrorism Act, stressing however that it can never assume superiority over the Constitution which stipulates that a citizen cannot be detained for more than 48 hours before being charged to court.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and made available to Forefront News viewed with great concern the 45-day detention without trial granted the DSS by a Federal High Court on Omoyele Sowore over his call for a protest on Monday .

Afenifere noted that Sowore was arrested before he could commit an offence stressing that the DSS seems to want to go shopping for evidence to prosecute him.

Odumakin further said; “Having failed to allow him to commit the offense before he was premptorily arrested, the DSS should free Sowore or charge him to court so the judicial process can take its course.

“As it is, he is only being held illegally using the legal process.

“Our advice to government is that it should understand and act in conformity with the democratic tenets in dealing with the rights of Nigerians.”