Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, has expressed strong condemnation for the invasion of the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the Department of State Service (DSS).
The invasion occurred after SERAP called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and reverse the allegedly illegal and unconstitutional increase in petrol prices. SERAP also demanded a thorough investigation into corruption and mismanagement within the NNPC.
In an official statement by Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director of SERAP, it was stated that a tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered their office accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Additionally, two unmarked vehicles were observed stationed outside the office.
The officers who arrived at the office requested to see the directors of SERAP. This invasion, harassment, and intimidation of staff members is a severe attack on the human rights community in Nigeria as a whole.
Prince Adewole Adebayo, in a post on his official X account with the handle @Pres-Adebayo, emphasized that Nigeria cannot revert to the days of the former military president, General Sani Abacha, and adopt it as a new doctrine. He demanded a clear and immediate explanation from the government regarding this invasion.
Adebayo stated, “I am a staunch supporter of law enforcement and the rule of law. The invasion of @SERAPNigeria’s office by agents of @OfficialDSSNG under the administration of @officialABAT demands an immediate and transparent explanation. We cannot allow ‘What would Abacha do?’ to become the new doctrine.”
Femi Falana, a prominent human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, also voiced his condemnation of the invasion. He stated that the Tinubu government must urgently identify and hold accountable the officers responsible for the invasion. Falana emphasized that the government should ensure the freedom of human rights defenders to carry out their work within the bounds of the Nigerian Constitution.
Furthermore, Senator Shehu Sani, a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate, expressed concern over the invasion. In a post on his official X handle @ShehuSani, he wrote, “The reported invasion of SERAP’s office is concerning. Security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organization, its officials, and members as guaranteed by the constitution.”
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