Human rights activist and Chair of the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, has revealed that 2,111 protesters were arrested during the 10-day #Endbadgovernance action across Nigeria from August 1st to 10th.
Additionally, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said 1,403 of the suspects have been surreptitiously arraigned in various courts and remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation.
Falana, in a statement entitled “HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS”, condemned the government’s actions, stating that “Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and their family members to make arrangements for their defence.”
He also emphasized that the Nigerian Bar Association had publicly announced its intention to provide lawyers to defend the suspects.
The activist highlighted the arrest of seven Polish students in Kano for taking photographs during the protest, who may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups. He also provided a breakdown of the distribution of protesters arrested across states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, and demanded that the government charge them to court.
READ ALSO:Falana warns protesters to guard against agitations for military coup
Falana criticized the discriminatory treatment of suspected looters, who are usually granted bail in liberal terms and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment.
He noted that the offence allegedly committed by the 783 suspects arrested in Kano was displaying the Russian flag during the protest, and questioned the legality of pressing charges against them in a country where flags of other nations are hoisted by hotels and churches.
The activist emphasized that the decision to deny the suspects legal representation constitutes a violent breach of their fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed by section 36 of the Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
He called on the government to halt the clampdown on protesters and ensure that their rights are respected.
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