Buhari under fire for trampling on human rights of opponents

ABUJA: Critics of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari believe his government is more brutal than the military dictatorship he presided over in the 1980s.

The criticism follows the continued detention, in defiance of court orders, of a former national security adviser, a pro-Biafra advocate and the most senior Muslim figure in the country.

Sambo Dasuki, Nnamdi Kanu and the head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim el Zakzaky, are being detained for alleged corruption, treason and agitating for the overthrow of government. Courts have granted them bail but they remain in detention.

“Unfortunately, the Buhari administration does not seem to appreciate that we are operating in a democratic dispensation, otherwise, once a court has ordered that somebody be released on bail, as in the case of Col Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, the government cannot dance around it,” said public affairs analyst Haruna Elbinawi.

For Dasuki, he said, the case was worse because three courts had granted him bail. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) Court had also slammed damages of N50 million (R2.2m) on the government for disobeying its orders in violation of the right of personal liberty under the African Charter of Human Rights.

Elbinawi said the case of sheikh Ibrahim el Zakzaky and his wife was “the worst case of human rights violation” with respect to the right of personal liberty since the colonial regime. “This is the first time a man and his wife are detained illegally for over a year, and in spite of a court order that they be released and be paid damages.” – ANA