The father of Nigerian singer Falz, Femi Falana (SAN) says the arrest of some protesters on June 12 is illegal.
The Human Rights lawyer demanded an apology from the police for all protesters arrested during peaceful protests in Abuja, Lagos, and Calabar, and accused the police of violating freedom of expression with the arrests.
He also stated that Section 94 (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) limits the police to providing adequate security during rallies, processions, and meetings.
The statement read;
“More so that the police had deliberately contravened Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 which provides that “Where a person or organization notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilize personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.”
“Since the Police admitted that protesters committed no offence whatsoever why were some of them arrested? Why were the so called hoodlums and miscreants who wanted to cause mayhem and unleash violence on the protesters not arrested? Or were they treated like sacred cows because they had been hired to disrupt the peaceful rallies of the protesters?
“Why were the scanty pro-government protesters who were reported to have fought openly in Abuja over their booty not arrested for breach of the peace in the Federal Capital Territory?”
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