President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Augustine Alegeh has said that the federal government must respect the rule of law in the case of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu who are facing separate criminal charges.
During the Maiden Presidential Media Chat, President Muhammadu Buhari explained why Kanu and Dasuki will not be granted bail despite court orders.
Professor Itse Sagay led anti-corruption committee also submitted that the government is not violating the rule of law in any way because any bail granted an accused is completely related to the offence which he is charged before the court.
While speaking to Vanguard, Alegeh explained that “Government has a need to respect the rule of law. As a matter of fact, there is need for government to be in the front burner in the respect for the rule of law.
“Whoever is unhappy, including government with a pronouncement of the court, has the opportunity of still going back to that court, for the court’s decision to be vacated or appeal to a higher court, but not to undertake to ignore it or carrying on as though nothing has happened or that the court’s order is not binding. That is an unacceptable principle in the rule of law.
“An agenda for the respect of rule of law is a must for the government. For specific cases in court, it’s not the business of the Nigerian Bar Association to make comments on them, because we have our members on both side and they can decide to speak on the matter, but on the general principle of rule of law, as an association, it is one area we are passionate about, which we feel is very essential.
“So, both government and citizens must subscribe to the principles of rule of law and doing otherwise is not an option. You cannot pick and choose which court order to obey, if you try to do that, you are clearly undermining the principle of rule of law and the obvious consequence will not help the society in anyway.
“We believe that from our interaction with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, they do not have an option but to obey court orders. You must bear in mind that the courts are there to settle disputes between individuals as well as between government and individuals, so it is important that all parties respect the rule of law and judgments and decision of courts as that is one area we will not compromise.”
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