Human rights activist insists constitutional duty knows no geography; minister says he has ‘only heard one side’; Sowore warns of mass mobilisation if no action in 48 hours
A fiery telephone exchange has erupted between former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, over the continued detention of whistleblower Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack” – with Sowore flatly rejecting the minister’s demand to wait until Wednesday for further discussion.
The minister, currently out of the country, had directed Sowore and two others to present themselves at the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. But Sowore insisted that Fagbemi’s physical absence from Nigeria does not absolve him of his constitutional responsibility to act swiftly in matters of fundamental human rights.
‘Justice from wherever you are’
“But you know, as the Minister of Justice, it’s your duty to do justice from wherever you are,” Sowore said during the call. “Whether you are in Paris, because you are the Minister of Justice of the Federation of Nigeria, you are the Attorney General of the Federation. If it warrants that you take a decision that saves someone’s life, are you saying you will not take the decision because you are not in town?”
However, Fagbemi dismissed the urgency, arguing that he had only heard one side of the matter. “This one does not affect… when you talk of life, everybody is, even breathing and everything is life. But on this occasion, I don’t see the need to take any decision on that, merely because I’ve heard one side, I’ve not heard the other side. So you have to wait till Wednesday, if need be. That’s my decision. I’m sorry, Mr. Sowore.”
Sowore fires back
In a swift response, Sowore rejected the delay. “Well, we disagree with you, Minister, but I’ve heard you. On Wednesday, we will send a delegation. I’m not coming because I don’t need to come and drink tea in the Ministry of Justice. I want to focus on mobilising people, and if they don’t do what is right…”
He added that the minister had effectively been given a 48‑hour window to act, warning that failure to address the situation could trigger public mobilisation.
‘Criminal kidnapping’ by military, DSS
Earlier, Sowore had demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Chidiebere, describing his detention as a “criminal kidnapping” orchestrated by the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS). Speaking at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday morning, Sowore detailed how the activist was severely tortured while in military custody before being transferred to the DSS.
According to Sowore, despite initial denials from the military, investigations traced the activist’s abduction to the Nigerian Army. The victim’s vehicle was tracked to a military facility where he was “badly maltreated and tortured” before being handed over to the DSS.
“We found out that it was the Nigerian Army, despite their denial and efforts to deflect from that criminal act. After establishing this and receiving no response from them, we traced his car to their compound and discovered that he had been badly maltreated and tortured,” he stated.
DSS only acted after protest threat
Sowore noted that the DSS only allowed the activist access to his lawyers after learning of a planned protest. “Eventually, they collaborated with their associates in the DSS and transferred him there about two nights ago. Upon realising that there would be a protest, the DSS presented him to his lawyers yesterday as proof of life.
“We also heard that they plan to bring him to court this morning. However, the question remains: to try him for what exactly?”
Wife advised to file bail application
SaharaReporters gathered that the wife of the detained whistleblower had been advised to file a bail application, even as the minister directed Sowore and others to appear on Wednesday. Sowore questioned whether that bail application had been formally filed, indicating uncertainty around the legal steps being taken to secure the whistleblower’s release.
As of press time, the Minister of Justice has not shifted his position, while Sowore has vowed to mobilise Nigerians should the government fail to act within 48 hours.