A human rights advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the United Nations (UN) to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the willful disobedience of court orders by his government.

In a petition dated May 11, 2018 and addressed to the UN, the organization expressed dismay over the Federal Government’s habit of choosing the court order to obey, thereby putting the rule of law in Nigeria under siege.

The petition, which was signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale and addressed to Mr. Diego Garcia – Sayan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers cited the refusal of the Federal Government to release the leader of the Shi’ite movement, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenatu who have been in military detention since December 2015 despite a court judgment ordering their release.

It also noted that despite another court judgment ordering the release of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), he is still being detained in prison custody by the Buhari administration.

SERAP warned that the continued disobedience of court judgments and rulings would undermine “the crucial role of the judiciary in combating corruption and obstruct access to justice, contrary to international standards including Article 11 of the UN Convention against corruption to which Nigeria is a state party”.