Francis Iwuchukwu 
Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday insisted that terrorism remains a serious offence which no government would overlook.
They spoke during an exclusive interview with New Telegraph while reacting to the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS), at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in London.
In his opinion, a SAN, Dr Abiodun Layonu, who made reference to the cliché that no one is above the law, argued that: “So, if there is an allegation, whatever investigation that has been done by the state, by the relevant authorities of the state to say that somebody is now being arrested, pursuant to the commission or an alleged commission of an offence, and something as serious as treason, terrorism financing or terrorism, these are things you cannot play or joke with, then you may go and arrest. “But then the due process of the law must follow.
So, I will not join to say that because it’s Ajaero, it is the President of NLC, he’s beyond arrest. “But at the same time, I must say that the government must be serious and responsible enough. Arresting somebody on a charge of terrorism or treason is a grave matter.”
On his part, another SAN, Victor Okpara, said: “From the point of view of compromising the sovereignty of the state, I want to believe that the arrest is actually inspired by concrete evidence at their disposal.
“But if the arrest is political, it will be very, very unfortunate. I don’t know the facts at the disposal of the DSS. I’m not privy to the investigative tools that they have as regards the reason they feel the NLC President should be arrested.
“But of course, if at the end of the day, the arrest is frivolous, and there’s no reasonable suspicion of terrorism, then certainly I would advise him to sue the DSS and claim colossal damages as constitutionally provided in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“But contrary-wise, if indeed there are facts, a prima facie case of an attempt by the NLC President to unseat this government as alleged, then certainly he should have his day in court. “He should be promptly arrested, promptly charged to court and prosecuted. “And at the end of the day, allow him full and ample opportunity to defend himself.
“So, I cannot draw any conclusion here apart from the fact that, well, it is just an arrest. “An arrest is just one of the investigative tools or investigative styles of any investigative organ.
“The arrest does not mean that he has been found blameworthy. The arrest does not mean that, at the end of the day, they have actually established certain things against him.”
