Senior Advocate decries increasing detention of journalists, activists under guise of cybercrime legislation 
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria’ (SAN), Barrister Hassan Liman, has decried the increasing cases of detention of journalists and activists under the guise of cybercrime legislation.
He lamented further, “In a recent case, a social media critic was held for six weeks without charge, with the Police citing ‘ongoing forensic analysis ‘ of electronic devices, which is a clear violation of Section 35 (4) of the Constitution.
“The Court eventually ordered release, but only after multiple adjournments that effectively condoned the prolonged detention .”
Our Correspondent reports that the renowned and prolific legal Icon spoke in Sokoto on Tuesday at a Session on National Security and Human Rights at the ongoing week-long activities lined up to mark the 2026 Caliphate Bar Law Week, organized by the Sokoto State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Liman, who is also the Wakilin Lafia and a holder of the prestigious national honour of MON, spoke as the Guest Speaker at the epochal event on the topic, “Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and the Governance of National Security in Nigeria ‘.
Liman further acknowledged that Nigeria is facing real security threats, adding, “I do not shy away from that fact.
“The bandits 9f the North-West, the terrorists of the North-East, the separatist agitators of the South-East, these are the real dangers.
“But, the response to emergency must not become a permanent state of exception.
“If we govern by security by abandoning constitutionalism, we will win battles and lose the war because we will have destroyed the very legal order we claim to defend.
“The Middle East earns us, once exceptional powers are normalised,they are almost impossible to roll back. The Syrian and Iraqi examples are cautionary takes.”
Liman, therefore, strongly urged a commitment to a vision of national security that is fierce against criminals but faithful to the Constitution.”
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