Femi Falana Reveals Arrest of 2,111 Protesters During #EndBadGovernance Protests, Condemns Government Actions
In a recent revelation, renowned human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, disclosed that 2,111 protesters were arrested during the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests held across Nigeria from August 1st to 10th. Falana further revealed that 1,403 of the arrested individuals have been arraigned in various courts and are currently remanded in prison due to a lack of legal representation
Falana expressed his concern over the situation in a statement titled “HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS,” where he criticized the government's approach to handling the protests. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that suspects are given adequate notice before their arraignment, allowing them to contact the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and their families to arrange legal defense.
The Nigerian Bar Association has publicly announced its intention to provide legal representation to the arrested protesters, a move that Falana supports. He highlighted the arrest of seven Polish students in Kano who were taking photographs during the protests. These students, according to Falana, may face espionage charges in an apparent attempt to create the impression that the protests were fueled by foreign groups.
Falana also provided a detailed breakdown of the distribution of arrests across various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He specifically noted that 783 suspects were arrested in Kano for allegedly displaying the Russian flag during the protests. Falana questioned the legality of charging these individuals, pointing out that flags of other nations are commonly displayed by hotels and churches in Nigeria.
In his statement, Falana condemned the government's decision to deny the suspects legal representation, describing it as a blatant violation of their fundamental right to a fair hearing. He referenced section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, both of which guarantee the right to a fair trial.
Falana's statement has sparked further debate over the handling of the protests and the treatment of those involved, with many calling for a reassessment of the government's actions.
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