- No fewer than 2,111 persons linked to the #Endbadgovernance protests were arrested across the country, according to Femi Falana
- 1,403 suspects were discreetly arraigned in court, held in prison due to lack of legal representation
- Femi Falana criticised lack of legal representation, accused authorities of discriminatory treatment
The nationwide #Endbadgovernance protests which lasted for 10 days were sparked by the worsening economic conditions, including high living costs, fuel price increases, and frustration with government policies.
It was a clear expression of the profound frustrations felt by Nigerians. The protesters demanded economic relief as well as enhanced transparency, accountability, and improved governance. However, their demands are yet to be met.
More so, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had disclosed that the #Endbadgovernance demonstration saw the arrest of at least 2,111 protesters across the country.
Polish students detained for photographing protests
This was revealed in an intense statement that also called for the government to proceed with formal charges against the suspects.
In his statement titled ‘HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS’, Falana also said seven Polish students participating in an exchange program at Bayero University, Kano, were detained for photographing the protest.
“They may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups.”
1,403 suspects discreetly arraigned
Falana further disclosed that 1,403 suspects have been discreetly arraigned in several courts. They were placed in prison custody due to the absence of legal representation, although the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had announced its intention to offer legal support.
Addressing the issue of the detained protesters, Falana demanded 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 further said, “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.
Falana criticises lack of legal representation
“We submit that the decision of the authorities 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.
“This is highly discriminatory and illegal on the ground that politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury to the tune of several billions of Naira are usually informed in advance of the dates and of their arraignment in the courts.
“Such highly placed suspected looters are always granted bail in liberal terms and even authorised by trial judges to travel abroad for medical treatment.
“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 sowing the flag was also arrested by the police. It may be difficult to press charges against the suspects in a country where the flags of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries are hoisted by the majority of hotels in Nigeria while Churches hoist the flag of Israel based on the erroneous belief that it is a Christian country.”
873 arrests made in Kano, 50 in FCT
Falana also provided an outline of how the protesters arrested were distributed across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Kano state saw the highest number of arrests with 873 persons, Jigawa 403, Katsina 120, Gombe 11, Sokoto 110, Borno 99, Yobe 90, Bauchi 60, Plateau 51, Kaduna 50, Federal Capital Territory 50, Nasarawa 40, Niger 25, Zamfara 19, Cross Rivers 10, according to human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.
“Fearless October Protest”: Only thing government understands is action, Adenola declares
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protesters announced a new nationwide demonstration set to begin on October 1.
Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation at the Take It Back Movement said the Federal government had not fulfilled any of the demands that initiated the 10-day nationwide protests.