Nwapa further berated security agencies for undermining the sanctity of the judiciary, insisting that courts should not be transformed into security zones.
Human rights activist, Francis Nwapa, has condemned the heavy security presence at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the court appearance of activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday.
Nwapa described the development as a dangerous assault on democracy and judicial independence, challenging the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to hunt down terrorists and bandits roaming freely in the country instead of cracking down on activists and critics.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nwapa described the deployment of heavily armed and hooded operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), alongside personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the court as “another dark day for Nigeria’s democracy.”
The heavy security buildup occurred during Sowore’s appearance for the continuation of his trial, the hearing of his bail application, and an application seeking the recusal of Justice Mohammed Umar from his Tinubu is a “criminal” case on Wednesday.
