Prominent human rights activist and Chair of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, Femi Falana, revealed that over 2,000 protesters arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations held from August 1 to 10 lack legal representation.
According to reports, 2,111 protesters were detained, and 1,403 have already been arraigned in various courts.
Falana stipulated that many of the suspects were ordered to be held in prison due to a lack of legal representation.
The Nigerian Bar Association had previously announced its plan to provide lawyers for the detainees.
In his statement titled ‘HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS,’ Falana criticized the government’s actions, saying, “Seven Polish students, who were taking part in an exchange programme in Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for taking photographs during the protest. They may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups.”
Falana also demanded that whenever the suspects are brought to court, they should be given proper notice so they can contact the NBA and their families for defense.
He stated, “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.”
A breakdown of the arrests shows the following numbers across various states and the Federal Capital Territory:
1. Kano — 873
2. Jigawa — 403
3. Katsina — 120
4. Gombe — 111
5. Sokoto — 110
6. Borno — 99
7. Yobe — 90
8. Bauchi — 60
9. Plateau — 51
10. Kaduna — 50
11. FCT — 50
12. Nasarawa — 40
13. Niger — 25
14. Zamfara — 19
15. Cross Rivers — 10
Falana criticized the government’s handling of the detainees, stating, “We have also confirmed that individual lawyers who had applied for the bail of the detained suspects in police stations were not informed that they were going to be arraigned in the courts. This is highly discriminatory and illegal.”
He also highlighted the disparity in treatment, noting that “politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury are usually informed in advance of their arraignment dates and are granted bail under liberal terms.”
Regarding the arrest of protesters in Kano, Falana mentioned, “The offence allegedly committed by the 783 suspects arrested in Kano is that they displayed the Russian flag during the protest. A tailor who was sewing the flag was also arrested by the police.”
Falana concluded, “It may be difficult to press charges against the suspects in a country where flags of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other European countries are commonly displayed.”
