Sowore Affair Derails Plans To Give Osinbajo Major Award

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has walked away from an award in apparent expression of his misgiving over the invasion of an Abuja court by state officials on Friday in pursuit of civil rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ which was to present an award to Osinbajo for his work in leading the justice reform work in Lagos State

Osinbajo, however, declined to pick the award because of what he declared as developments in the Sowore case.

The centre had also on its part apparently stepped down the award to the vice-president.

A senior official of the centre said that, “the vice president has been called out over the current administration’s clamp down on free speech and Sowore’s trial.”

The award went ahead on Monday in Lagos without reference to the vice-president who was to be appreciated for his work as commissioner of justice in Lagos State for what was described as 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.”

Osinbajo was also on the same page with the centre as he said it would be inappropriate for him to receive the award under the present situation.

A statement by Laolu Akande quoted Osinbajo as saying: “The award, I note, is for our Justice reform efforts in Lagos State. I had accepted the award with pride on behalf of the excellent Justice Sector team we had.

“However, two reasons explain my absence. First is that I am currently in Abu Dhabi for an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the UAE where I am the keynote speaker.

“Second, in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.

“Please accept my heartfelt apologies and extend the same to the other members of the organising team. God bless you.”

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