ABUJA – A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, has called for special protection in courts in the country to forestall violence.
Sagay made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
Sagay, who was reacting to attacks on a judge in Ekiti State on Sept. 25, by some persons believed to be thugs, urged politicians to caution their loyalists against violence.
He described the attack in Ekiti as barbaric and undemocratic.
“ In view of the attacks on our courts in recent times, particularly in volatile areas, courts need special protection.
“Some politicians have taken the politics of this country to the Stone Age and it is totally unacceptable,’’ he said.
In the same vein, a human rights activist, Ms Ankio Briggs, condemned the attack on the judiciary in Ekiti State.
Briggs, who said the development in state was worrisome, also expressed concern over abuse of freedom by some Nigerians.
She called on youth to engage in meaningful ventures, rather than engaging in acts capable of destabilising the country.
“The violence we witness in the country is often carried out by youths and this is because they are not being adequately catered for.”
She called on the state governments to invest in youths to reduce youth related violence.
“As such the investment politicians are making in the youths is that of violence, this is deplorable and unacceptable.
“No matter their grievances, youths need to exercise restraint, avoid violence and eschew being used by politicians against their people, “ she said.
According to her, the politicians do not engage their children in such violence because their children are based outside the country.
She reminded youths that politicians only used them for unlawful acts for selfish gains. [eap_ad_1] “If you ask the youth in Ekiti State why they have resorted to violence, the reason they will give you is politics. Fine, if they say it is politics, are they politicians?”
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, on Sept. 26 ordered immediate closure of all state courts in the state.
This followed the assault on Justice John Adeyeye of the High Court in Ado-Ekiti on Sept. 25 during the inaugural sitting of the State Election Tribunal.
The tribunal was to begin proceedings on the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Ayodele Fayose, at the recent governoprship election.
Also, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Sept. 26, declared a 24-hour curfew in the state following widespread violence across Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The renewed violence was believed to follow the killing of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Omolafe Aderiye, by unknown persons on Thursday night. (NAN)
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