Falana Knocks Garba Shehu, ‘Have You Suddenly Become Power Drunk?’

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has carpeted Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammdu Buharki, over comments he made concerning the continued detention of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Shehu had, in a chat with journalists on Tuesday, claimed that Zazaky’s unremitting detention was for the cleric’s own good.

But Falana, in a statement on Wednesday, described Shehu’s statement as a demonstration of official impunity.

The human rights lawyer wondered if the presidential aide has suddenly become so power drunk to the point that he considers disobedience to court order as lawful.

“In a reckless demonstration of official impunity Mr Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity purportedly issued a statement yesterday on behalf of the presidency to justify the illegal detention of Sheikh Ibraheem Elzakzaky and his wife, Hajia Ibraheema Elzakzaky,” he said.

“In the incendiary statement, Mr Shehu claimed that the valid and subsisting order of the federal high court made on December 2, 2016 would not be obeyed by the federal government on the dubious ground that the Sheikh is in ‘protective custody’ while the justification for holding the wife is that she is taking good care of her husband in the illegal custody.

“According to Mr Shehu, ‘El-Zakzaky is held for his own good. If you set him free, what do you think will happen on the streets? He is not in a typical prison condition. He has the company of his wife and children. They can leave if they want. There is overall public good weighing against his release.’

“In the chequered history of Nigeria, this is the first time that a democratically elected government has openly justified the detention of any citizen in defiance of a valid and subsisting order of a competent court of law.

“Even under the neo-tarzanist Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders which directed that victims of the obnoxious Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984 be released from illegal custody were complied with. But under a democratic government, Mr Shehu wants Nigerians to believe that the El-Zakzakys are held in ‘protective custody’ after the federal high court had declared such detention illegal and unconstitutional. Or has Mr Shehu suddenly become so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the federal high court?”

“When reminded that the federal high court had dismissed such unsubstantiated allegation Mr Shehu turned round to say that ‘El-Zakzaky is held for his own good’. Is Mr Shehu not aware that El-Zakzaky has lost one of his eyes in the dungeon of the State Security Service and may lose the other one due to denial of urgent medical treatment? Why has his request to travel abroad for medical attention at his own expense been refused by the federal government?” he asked.

Falana further asked that Shehu be called to order as his conduct over the matter was least expected from an aide representing the presidency.

“Since neither President Mohammadu Buhari nor Acting President Yemi Osinbajo could have authorised the contemptuous statement issued on behalf of the presidency Mr Shehu Garba should be called to order and restrained from further exposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilized nations.

“However, since the federal government continues to proclaim loudly that it operates under the rule of law it cannot be permitted to treat court orders with disdain. To that extent, El-zakzaky and his wife must be released from the illegal custody of the State Security Service since the federal high court has dismissed the official claim that they are held in ‘protective custody,” he said.