Nigeria has returned to military era – Afenifere decries arrest of judges

Segun Atanda/

The Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, lawyers and some human rights groups have strongly kicked against the recent invasion of the homes of judges and the arrest of over four of them by the Department of State Services.

According to them, the actions of the DSS showed that Nigeria had returned to the harsh military era, including the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari in 1984.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, while reacting to the development said, “It is executive lawlessness and usurpation of investigative functions of the judicial arm of government. It was not done with the authority of the National Judicial Council as stipulated in our constitution.

“We are certainly descending into a deeper dictatorship trajectory than we have ever witnessed in our polity even during military interregnum.

“If judges can come under this raw show of naked power, what would be the fate of the everyday citizens? This is a new low never witnessed in our country and all lovers of justice, democracy and decency must condemn this barbaric act.”