Leading human right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana, has roundly condemned Monday’s invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, describing it as unlawful and gross abuse of power.
This came just as a fellow activist and former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, expressed deep concern at the development, describing it as a flagrant violation of the organisation’s fundamental rights.
SERAP had, on Monday, taken to its official X handle to alert the world that DSS operatives had taken over its Abuja office.
The advocacy group urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to cease the harassment, intimidation, and attacks on Nigerians’ rights.
In a statement he issued in Lagos on Monday, Falana said the invasion was not only unlawful but also a gross abuse of power, urging the administration to investigate and prosecute whoever is found culpable in the violation.”
“I condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office,” Falana said. “The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government.
“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
Similarly, in a statement he posted on his X handle, Shehu Sani said: “The reported invasion of the SERAP office is concerning. Security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organisation, its officials, and its members as guaranteed by the constitution of the country.”
Amnesty International also condemned the invasion but placed the blame at President Bola Tinubu’s doorstep, maintaining that the administration had gone too far in suppressing voices of dissent in the country.
“Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project by operatives of the DSS,’ Amnesty said in the post. “President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to silence dissenting voices.”
