Nigerian VP speaks out on Friday’s court invasion and Sowore rearrest

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has condemned the invasion of a court room and rearrest of former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore by Department of State Services (DSS) agents on Friday. 

Mr Osinbajo, a law professor, had previously been criticised by many Nigerians for failing to speak publicly on the invasion of an Abuja federal high court. 

Speaking to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalists, Mr Osinbajo explained that, in light of the court fiasco, he could not receive their award for being an Anti-Corruption Defender’. 

"... in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony," Mr Osinbajo wrote to the award organisers on Sunday.

Mr Osinbajo was awarded the Integrity Specialty of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award for his "invaluable work of overhauling the Lagos State Judiciary, facilitating far-reaching reforms in the administration of justice in the state, his work of promoting integrity in the civil society and business in Nigeria and his consistency as a strong voice for promoting integrity in the country.”

But, in a statement to the organisers the vice president explained that he would not be picking up the award: firstly because he had a speaking engagement in Abu Dhabi, and secondly because “in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.”