Rights of Individuals must take second place to national security – President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the rights of individuals in the society must always take a second place where national security and public interests are threatened.

President Buhari said this yesterday while declaring open the 58th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)  in Abuja with the theme: “Transition, Transformation and Sustainable Institutions’’.

He said although his administration subscribes to the rule of law as the foundation of the society, it is also guided by the belief that the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.

“Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society”, President Buhari said.

Buhari urged lawyers  to join his administration in achieving the  core objective of enhancing Nigeria’s business environment and promoting social justice by promoting respect for the Rule of Law; contributing to the law reform process and putting national interest and professional ethics above self in the conduct of their business.