The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed shock and dismay over the reported invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by armed officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
The civil rights group described the action as a violation of constitutional principles and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and restore order.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of separation of powers as enshrined in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the 1999 Constitution.
The group reminded the security agencies that their actions must align with the law, stressing that the legislature, executive, and judiciary must each operate within their defined constitutional roles.
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“Our intervention is informed by the urgency to remind the DSS and the Police that as agencies created by law, they are bound by the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
“The principle of separation of powers is a tested and hallowed constitutional principle. The legislature makes the law; the executive executes it, while the judiciary interprets it. Any action contrary to this undermines democracy”, Onwubiko said.
HURIWA likened the Lagos Assembly incident to the 2018 invasion of the National Assembly in Abuja during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group recalled how some legislators, particularly women, stood their ground in defense of the constitution during that period, warning that such acts of impunity must not be allowed to recur.
The rights group further questioned the rationale behind the presence of security operatives at the Lagos Assembly, stating that there was no visible or verifiable justification for the invasion.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS and the police to vacate the premises immediately.
“If there are litigations challenging the leadership of the Lagos Assembly, the courts should be allowed to resolve them without interference from the executive through its security apparatus.
“The DSS and police cannot constitute themselves into a court of law. Our democracy must never be truncated”, the statement added.
HURIWA reiterated that Nigeria’s democratic stability hinges on respect for the rule of law and the independence of government institutions.
The group urged security agencies to exercise caution and decorum in handling matters related to the nation’s legislative bodies, warning against actions that could erode public trust in democratic governance.
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