Huriwa condemn DSS, police invasion of the Lagos Assembly, wants Tinubu to intervene

The Association of Human Rights Writers of Nigeria (Huriwa) has expressed commotion and consternation for the reported invasion of the Chamber of the Establishment of the State of Lagos by the armed officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police Force of Nigeria.

The civil rights group described the action as a violation of constitutional principles and asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and restore the order.

In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, Huriwa emphasized the importance of defending the principles of separation of powers as consecrated in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

The group reminded the security agencies that their actions must align with the law, emphasizing that the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary must operate within their defined constitutional roles.

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“Our intervention is informed by the urgency of reminding the DSS and the Police that, as agencies created by law, are bound by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“The principle of separation of powers is a proven and sacred constitutional principle. The legislature makes the law; The Executive executes it, while the Judicial Power interprets it. Any action contrary to this undermines democracy, ”said Onwubiko.

Huriwa compared the incident of the Lagos Assembly with the invasion of the 2018 National Assembly in Abuja during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group recalled how some legislators, particularly women, remained firm in defense of the Constitution during that period, warning that such acts of impunity should not be able to resort.

The rights group also questioned the justification behind the presence of security agents in 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 facilities immediately.

“If there are litigation that challenges the leadership of the Lagos Assembly, the Courts must be allowed to resolve them without interference from the Executive through their security apparatus.

“The DSS and the Police cannot become a court of justice. Our democracy should never be truncated, ”added the statement.

Huriwa reiterated that Nigeria’s democratic stability depends on respect for the rule of law and the independence of government institutions.

The group urged security agencies to exercise caution and decorum in the management of issues related to the legislative agencies of the Nation, warning against actions that could erode public confidence in democratic governance.