By Our reporter
More than 30 lawyers will expectantly assemble at the Federal High Court Abuja, Friday, August 23, 2024, where protesters detained by the Nigeria Police Force during the #EndBadGovernance, nationwide protest, will be arraigned.
This was revealed by the human rights activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju who reportedly said that they were preparing for the arraignment of about 27 #EndBadGovernance, Protesters that were detained during the just ended nationwide protest.
Recall that the nationwide protest aimed at ending bad governance and hunger in the land kicked off in most states of the federation on August 1st – 10th, 2024.
Commenting on the possible arraignment of the protesters in court, the human rights lawyer reportedly expressed their full readiness, adding that the lawyers are looking forward to the arraignment and and are hoping that they will arraign the protesters today, Friday.
“We are expecting over 30 lawyers at the Federal High Court in Abuja in defence of the protesters”, he was reported to have said.
According to a report by Vanguard, Deji said: “We are looking at 27 #EndBadGovernance protesters from the numbers we have to be arraigned in court.
“The police have also arrested some other people we are not aware of that we have now been made aware of today, Thursday. They were arrested two weeks ago in Abuja.”
“The remand warrant the police obtained for 14 days has long expired, we are optimistic that they will be charged.
“We went to the police station to see the protesters but we were still not allowed to see them but we can confirm that one of them was seen by her family two days ago.
The human rights lawyer alleged that the protesters were being treated badly and made to live in human conditions where they are detained.
“They are being made to sleep on the bare floor in an extremely difficult situation, and they are largely very unkempt”, he said.
Similarly, another human rights lawyer, Temi Salami, reportedly denounced the continued detention of the protesters stressing that it is a clear violation of the protesters fundamental human rights, and the constitution, which stipulates in Section 36 of the Constitution, that suspects be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours if the court is not within jurisdiction.
He stated: “It is against our laws to detain any suspect beyond 48 hours without an arraignment. Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) specifically states that anyone arrested must be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours at the maximum, if the court is not within jurisdiction.”
The lawyers condemned the federal government for expending so much energy fighting innocent citizens protesting against the harsh government policies that have reduced them to nothing, warning that they are in the process of filing a suit against the Federal Government on the unconstitutional act on the fundamental rights of the protesters by the President.
Meanwhile,, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has cautioned against indiscriminate arrests of journalists covering protests in different parts of the world, and who have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions, and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.
UNESCO noted that all authorities concerned have the duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world, in accordance with international norms and human rights obligations.
It said: “In times of crisis, as in times of peace, journalists are crucial lifelines to verified information for citizens. They facilitate public debate and dialogue that are pathways to democratic solutions. Authorities must guarantee the safety of journalists covering protests, in line with international freedom of expression standards.
“Within the UNESCO Series World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO has previously highlighted the growing risks to the safety of journalists covering protests.
“A UNESCO report on the safety of journalists covering environmental issues, published for World Press Freedom Day in May 2024, revealed that 194 journalists, groups of journalists and media houses have been attacked in the context of environmental protests in the past 15 years.
“UNESCO is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists that undermine their legitimate role of informing populations with accurate and verified information. “
With reports from the Vanguard