From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has protested against what he called “ongoing unlawful detention” of Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze by the Department of State Security Service (DSS), despite a valid and subsisting court judgment in suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/62/2022 ordering his immediate release.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement yesterday, claimed to have received a letter from the legal representatives of Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze, detailing the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent detention by the DSS since October 11, 2021.
Onwubiko, who did not disclosed Okoroeze’s offence, said: “In a compelling plea for justice, legal representatives of Mrs. Perpetua Adaora Okoroeze, spouse of Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze, highlighted the prolonged and unlawful detention of Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) since October 11, 2021.
“Despite a Federal High Court judgment in suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/62/2022 ordering his immediate release, the DSS has yet to comply till date.”
He emphasized that the disobedience of a binding court ruling undermines Nigeria’s democratic principles and judicial independence, tarnishing the country’s image on the international stage, and reducing Nigeria to a banana republic.
According to him, the continued detention of Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze despite the court’s order is a clear violation of his fundamental human rights, as enshrined in Sections 33, 34, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
“The premier civil rights advocacy group emphasised the need for the DSS to adhere to the rule of law and respect the decisions of a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
Moreover, he called on President Bola Tinubu to, as the head of the executive arm of government, intervene and order the DSS to comply with the court’s judgment by releasing Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze.
In support of its call for Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze’s release, he cited the international human rights laws and conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
He underscored the importance of upholding these principles to safeguard the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their status or circumstances.
Furthermore, he announced its intention to escalate the matter to the United Nations Human Rights Council, seeking international intervention to ensure justice for Prince Kenechukwu Okoroeze and accountability for the DSS’s actions.
In conclusion, he reaffirmed its commitment to defending human rights and holding government agencies accountable.