On Sunday, Forever 21 joined the increasing list of retailers who have signed off in business as a result of ever growing oppression of e-commerce giants. Mainly, Amazon and Alibaba.

The 35 years old clothing retail company filed for bankruptcy in the face of overwhelming struggle to stay in business. Forever say it’s closing its 178 stores across the US.

The “fast-fashion” firm Forever 21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It wants to close up to 178 U.S. stores, though it does not want to leave any major markets in the country. If the plans go through, Forever 21 would mostly pull out of Asia and Europe, while continuing operations in Mexico and Latin America.

“We have requested approval to close up to 178 stores across the U.S. The decisions as to which domestic stores will be closing are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued conversations with landlords.” The company said.

Forever 21’s bankruptcy filing adds its name to the growing list of retailers that have bitten the dust this year, including Barney’s, Payless Shoes, Gymboree, Sugarfina, Innovative Mattress Solutions and more. In Forever 21’s case, “fast fashion” these days seems to refer to how quickly fickle consumers abandon once popular brands, noted Fortune in a newsletter.

Forever 21 is operational in 57 countries and plans to shut down activities in most of its outlets in Asia and Europe. The company said it would close all 14 stores in Japan at the end of October.

The bankruptcy also affected its businesses in Canada. The company said it is taking down 44 stores in the country. Only Mexico and Latin America stores are allowed to function in the drastic decision.

The incessant dwindling in sales despite some financial backing suggests that the company needs a new approach. Forever 21, received $275 million in financing from its existing lenders with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N,A as agent. And there was another $75 million in new capital from TPG Sixth Street Partners.

More than 20 retailer shops have succumbed to the forces of online shopping giants since 2017, in the US alone. And the remnants are struggling to find their feet doing what they have always done.

Forever 21, believes the tradition is no longer sustainable, for the company to survive the intimidating threat of big e-commerce companies, it must do something differently.

Developing countries that are providing lifelines to retailers because of their conventional shopping pattern have been, recently, implementing cashless policies that will spur the e-commerce culture. Countries like Nigeria are gradually adapting, and retail shops are feeling the boom.

In developed countries where Amazon and Alibaba reign, many believe that the survival of retailers depends on expanding to countries where the e-commerce giants don’t exert much influence. And Africa stands in the center.

The cost of shipping is a deterrent to many would be buyers from Amazon, leaving retail stores as an alternative.

Therefore, the restructure that Forever 21 acknowledged it needs will only be effectual if they are thinking in the direction.

The Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to publish and fully implement the recommendations of the report on financial autonomy of state legislature and the judiciary.

The social economic rights group took the step in light of the frequent disobedient to court orders by the Federal Government.

It is believed that somehow, the Federal Government is commanding some economic influence over the judiciary, which is against the principles of separation of power.

SERAP, in the letter signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, thus urged president Buhari to use his office to promote accountability and judicial independence by publishing the report he received back in June. The letter reads:

“In the context of a growing attack on the country’s judiciary by the authorities and politicians, the full implementation of the report will contribute to improving judicial independence, and respect for constitutional principles of separation of powers and systems of checks and balances designed to prevent political interference and ensure respect for the rule of law.”

“Equal treatment before the law is a pillar of democratic societies. But when judicial financial autonomy and by extension, independence and sanctity is undermined, the scales of justice are tipped, and ordinary Nigerians suffer. In fact, when judicial autonomy and independence is under siege, everyone loses, as the voice of the innocent goes unheard, while the guilty continue to act with impunity.”

“The failure to publish the full recommendations of the report and to begin to implement them has continued to undermine the country’s judicial systems, and deny citizens’ access to justice and basic human right to a fair and impartial justice system.”

“Ensuring the financial autonomy and independence of the courts would improve the ability of our judicial systems to deliver justice effectively and efficiently. it would also allow the court to jealously guard the rights of innocent men and women, and ensure that the guilty receive a fair and impartial hearing, as well as remove the dangerous possibility of summary justice.”

“We urge you to ensure full respect for the rule of law and due process in words and actions.”

“A financially autonomous judiciary is crucial for the effectiveness and success of your anti-corruption agenda, and important for the realization of citizen’s human rights. Unless the report is fully implemented, trust in the court’s impartiality and independence will continue to be eroded, and the core judicial functions, access to justice, and the broader accountability function of the judiciary, will continue to be undermined.”

“A weak judiciary would mean that impunity for corrupt officials will remain, as the ability of our government and ant-corruption agencies to prosecute grand corruption, as well as public trust and confidence in institutions of government and public officials, will continue to be undermined.”

“SERAP is extremely concerned about the growing attack on the independence of the judiciary and the sanctity of our justice system, particularly the repeated failures by your government, state governments and politicians to respect and comply with court decision and orders.”

“SERAP notes that you received in June 2019, the report of the Abubakar Malami-led presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State legislature and Judiciary. The committee, inaugurated by you on March 22, 2019 was tasked to fashion out strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and judiciary, in compliance with section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as (amended).”

“When you received the report, you stated that, ‘I went through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections. That is why I want to stabilize the system so that others will not pass through the same experience.”

“This worrying situation threatens to undermine the judiciary’s fragile independence, and the sacred constitutional principles of separation of powers and systems of checks and balances.”

“Continuing refusal to respect and obey court decisions and orders if not urgently stopped will lead to increased corruption and impunity. Disobedience of court orders is an implicit interference in the judicial system, and shows a flagrant disregard for Nigeria’s constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international obligations. Persistent disobedience of court orders and decisions threatens any gains in the fight against corruption that your government may have recorded.”

“SERAP is concerned about the growing list of court orders and decisions that have been flagrantly disobeyed by your government, the most recent being the order of justice Taiwo Taiwo, Federal High Court, Abuja granting bail to the publisher of SaharaReporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and the reported attempts by your government to drag Justice Taiwo before National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to grant bail to Mr. Sowore.”

“Other high-profile judgements your government is refusing to obey include at least three judgements obtained by SERAP. The first is the judgement by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari ordering the government to tell Nigerians about the stolen asset it allegedly recovered, with details of the amounts recovered. The second judgement, by Justice Mohammed Idris, orederd the government to publish details on the spending of the stolen fund recovered by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999.”

“The third judgement, Justice Chuka Austine Obizor, a professor of law, ordered the government to publish details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly corrupt electricity contractors and companies by the governments of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former president Goodluck Jonathan, and your government.”

“Another court order that is yet to be complied with is the order for the release of Islamic Movement of Nigeria leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky and his wife, Zeena , from unlawful detention, obtained by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi falana.”

On Saturday, September 28, a Lagos based software Engineer, Toni Astor, narrated on Twitter, a bitter ordeal he had with men of the Nigerian Police in Ogudu area of Lagos State. His story reels on intimidation, brutality and extortion – a familiar trend that many tech guys in Nigeria can relate with.

So yeah ?, SARZ messed up my Saturday and I get to be locked up because I’m a software developer.
A thread.

— Toni Astro (@toniastro_) September 28, 2019

The story went viral, attracting the interest of Police Crime Response Unit (PCRU), a body designated to handle cases of police extortion, brutality and other excesses. But it attracted the interest of the Nigerian tech community.

So came the birth of the hashtag, #StopRobbingUs, and pathetic stories that trended along with it. Nigerian tech leaders threw their weight behind the movement, the goal was to find a permanent solution to the impunity that has enabled the extortions. Enough is Enough (EiE), a social accountability group has stood up in support of the initiative to commence a Class Action Lawsuit against the police.

And other tech moguls are standing by the #StopRobbingUs movement. Led by Bosun Tijani of CcHUB, Jason Njoku of Iroko, Iyin Aboyeji of Future Africa, and Oluyomi Ojo of Printivo, among others, there’s unwavering determination to get to the root of the matter. Flutterwave has launched a fundraiser for the campaign, and according to reports, the response has been impressive as money is said to be coming from all angles. Over $30, 000 has been raised in just 24 hours after the launch. Flutterwave CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, promised that the company will waive all charges on the payment link.

Human Rights lawyer and the convener of #EndSars campaign, Segun Awosanya, has also joined the campaign. Since 2017, he has been at the forefront of the struggle to tame rogue police officers who prey on innocent citizens to enrich themselves. The pattern has not changed: iphone, laptop or any other gadgets is an evidence of being a cyber-fraudster (Yahoo Yahoo). You only have to negotiate your way out of their hold by paying a sum. If you don’t have cash on you, you use the ATM.

The tech community has been at the receiving end of the system because they use gadgets more than any other people. And that’s why they are rising to the challenge of protecting their own. The CEO of CcHUB, Bosun Tijani, said:

“Our ask is simple. Stop arresting our colleagues. This is an ongoing concern for Nigeria’s tech community. A talent problem already exists in our sector, yet police, particularly SARS’ harassment, accentuates the talent drain in our industry.

“This is central issue for jobs and youth empowerment in Nigeria and the continued, illegal attacks on our country’s young people should be treated as a national emergency.

“Beyond its pro-innovation rhetoric, the Nigerian government continues to turn a blind eye to the robbery and psychological intimidation of young tech talent.”

According to startup Genome, the Nigerian tech industry is the most valuable in Africa with about 700 startups commanding $2 billion. Partech reported that in 2018, Nigeria attracted $306 million tech investments.

In the face of dwindling oil revenue and wobbling economy, technology is seen as an alternative to economic growth. The US tech-based economy is an ample example of what tech can mean to the economy when the government provides the environments it will thrive on.

With over $1.6 trillion market value in 2019, and about $326 billion in export, the US economy doesn’t care about the downturn in the oil sector, even though it has more oil reserves than Nigeria. The quest for cleaner energy is also a threat that its inevitability cannot be ignored. These instances are expected to instigate the Nigerian Government to facilitate tech-enabling environment, where the police will not be a threat to tech innovators.

However, the wake-up call has been heard, and the tech community is no longer leaving matters into government’s hands to handle. Beside the initiative to sue the police, there is also plan to develop apps that will track police activities and record events as their unfold so as to hold them accountable.

The Press Release

Nigerian Tech Community Fights Back Against SARS

Tech Leaders Consider Legal Action Against Illegal Arrests of Software Engineers

Monday 30 September 2019. Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria’s technology leaders have launched #StopRobbingUs, a campaign to put an end to the common practice where Nigerian police stop young people with laptops and unlawfully arrest, attack or, in extreme circumstances, kidnap them, forcing them to withdraw funds from their bank accounts in order to regain their freedom. Working alongside Enough is Enough Nigeria [EiE], a network of individuals and organisations that promote good governance and public accountability in Nigeria, the #StopRobbingUs movement is now considering a Class Action Lawsuit on police brutality.

Led by ‘Bosun Tijani of CcHUB, Jason Njoku of IROKO, Iyin “E” Aboyeji of Future.Africa and Oluyomi Ojo of Printivo, amongst others, the campaign is calling for the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene in the continued practice of illegally arresting and extorting young people in Nigeria who work in the technology sector. A fundraiser has been launched by Flutterwave to raise money for a legal intervention and public awareness programme, which has already seen donations flooding in from across the globe.

The #StopRobbingUs campaign comes after Toni Astro, a Lagos-based software engineer, posted on Twitter a harrowing account of his encounter with Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] officers in Ketu, Lagos. During his ordeal on Saturday 28th September, Astro was allegedly publicly intimidated, arrested, beaten and extorted, in order to secure his freedom. News of SARS officers (Nigeria Police and all tactical units) targeting software engineers is a frequent occurrence in Lagos and this is the latest in a string of attacks. Today’s news builds on the larger #EndSARS movement that has rocked Nigeria over the last year, which has used social media to appeal for an end to the frequent robberies of Nigerians, by security operatives who are supposed to protect them.

‘Bosun Tijani, CEO CcHUB says, “Our ask is simple. Stop arresting our colleagues. This is an ongoing concern for Nigeria’s tech community. A talent problem already exists in our sector, yet police, particularly SARS’ harassment, accentuates the talent drain in our industry. This is the central issue for jobs and youth empowerment in Nigeria and the continued, illegal attacks on our country’s young people should be treated as a national emergency. Beyond its pro-innovation rhetoric, the Nigerian government continues to turn a blind eye to the robbery and psychological intimidation of young tech talent.

“We are social innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers and business leaders who work in Nigeria’s technology and innovation sector. Over the last few decades, we have collectively helped to build an innovative, highly respected tech industry that has elevated Nigeria on the global stage and demonstrated that young Nigerians can do great things. The bedrock of our industry is Nigeria’s young and ambitious technology talent. They drive our operations, build our products, serve our customers and solve difficult problems for society everyday. Without this talent our industry would not exist. Nigeria’s tech community is mobilizing, and fast. Collectively, we have remained silent for too long. As of now, our voice will be deafening, and we plan to see the #StopRobbingUs campaign through to the very end.”

In an online statement, Jason Njoku, CEO IROKO called for “a robust and concerted legal effort” to combat SARS’ indiscriminate attacks on Nigeria’s young technology workers. The tech community is now mobilizing to deliver this, working alongside key partners including EiE, Segun Awosanya (@Segalink), government bodies and the police. The fundraising effort backed by Flutterwave has already seen donations in excess of N11,000,000 million (~$30,000) in less than 24hours, with funds still flooding in.The company’s CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, has stated that the payments platform will “waive all charges on the payment link.”

Nigeria is Africa’s most valuable tech ecosystem, with 400-700 startups worth $2billion according to startup genome report and last year alone, the country attracted $306m in tech investment, according to a report by Partech.

Named tech leaders of the campaign include: Bosun Tijani, Jason Njoku Oluyomi Ojo, Olumide “D.O” Olusanya, Adetunji Eleso, Odunayo Eweniyi, Adewale Yusuf, Tayo Oviosu, Jessica Hope, Chinedu Azodoh, Editi Effiong, Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Femi Longe, Idris Ayodeji Bello, Jay Alabraba, Kola Aina, Shola Akinlade, Gbenga Agboola, Mark Essien, Sim Shagaya, Aanu Adeoye, Tomiwa Aladekomo, Benjamin Dada, Shola Adekoya, Oo Nwoye, Prosper Otemuyiwa, Nelson Olaonipekun, Dele Bakare, Ngozi Dozie, Chijioke Dozie.