Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, has asserted that the federal government was justified in detaining Omoyele Sowore and Sambo Dasuki despite court orders for their release.
Malami made this assertion during an appearance on NTA programme on Thursday, January 2nd.
Sowore, the convener of the Revolution Now movement, and Dasuki, the former national security adviser (NSA), were held by the Department of State Services (DSS) long after several court orders were issued for their release.
During the program, Malami, who later instructed the DSS to release both men, maintained that the government did not act wrongly in holding them despite the court orders. He asserted that the government had the right to continue detaining Sowore and Dasuki until an appeal against the orders is determined by the supreme court.
“If a decision is made or a judgment is passed, you have an option: one, absolute and unconditional compliance; two, challenge to the order by way of either an appeal against it; or asking that the order be reviewed or appealing and applying for stay of execution,” he said.
“So, in respect of those orders we are not comfortable with as a government, we go back to the court and have them challenged. Until that matter, that your right of challenge, is determined up to the supreme court level, the idea of you being charged with disobedience of court order does not arise.”
When asked if the government applied for variation of the court orders against Sowore and Dasuki, the minister stated that there were applications to set aside the orders.
“There were appeals for stay of execution all through. So, until those matters reach the supreme court and the supreme court takes the final decision, relating there, you are still operating within the ambit and context of the rule of law,” he added.