According to human rights advocate and attorney Femi Falana, 2,111 demonstrators were detained throughout the 10-day #Endbadgovernance protests that took place across Nigeria from August 1–10.
Due to a lack of legal representation, 1,403 of the accused, according to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), have been charged in multiple courts and placed under remand in jail custody.
Additionally, he added that the Nigerian Bar Association had made public its determination to supply solicitors to represent the accused.
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.”
To create the impression that foreign organisations were behind the protests, the activist drew attention to the arrest of seven Polish students in Kano for snapping pictures of the demonstration.
These students could face charges of espionage. In addition, he insisted that the government file criminal charges against the demonstrators and gave a breakdown of how they were arrested throughout the states and the Federal Capital Territory, or FCT, Abuja.
He questioned the validity of charging the 783 individuals who were detained in Kano for allegedly flying the Russian flag during the protest, given that hotels and churches in Nigeria frequently fly flags of foreign countries.
Falana underlined that the suspects’ fundamental right to a fair trial, protected by section 36 of the Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, has been violently violated by the decision to refuse them legal representation.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
