Protesters on Monday stormed the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja to protest the judgment of the court which ordered the unconditional release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The protesters, operating under the aegis of Coalition on Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI), numbering over 500 expressed concern over the judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Kolawole should go, we are tired of bad judgment”, among others, saying that the judgment was delivered, “without recourse to the consequences that this dangerous precedence would have on law enforcement, security, anti-terrorism fight, extremism and secessionist movements in Nigeria.”
Addressing the protesters, CGGCI National President, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi said the, “judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigeria by legalising terrorism while leaving the rest of us at risk of losing our lives.”
He described the judgment as ridiculous, wondering how the judge could order the release of someone who poses grave security risk to the society, through his extreme brand of foreign backed radical programme in the name of religion.
Ogenyi said Nigerians are ever-ready to do the needful in safeguarding the future of the country, and called for Justice Kolawole’s investigation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“This judge also failed to realise the weight of his utterance that has basically ordered the government to build a new headquarters for a proscribed group,” Ogenyi said.
The leader of the protest was later asked to write a properly addressed letter to the Chief Registrar of the court and submit through their lawyers.