Weeks after the protest to finish unhealthy governance embarked upon by 1000’s of Nigerians from August 1 to 10, 2024, it’s hardly gratifying that a few of them are being introduced out for trial. For one factor, solely a handful of these allegedly arrested and detained have been introduced out for prosecution. And for one more factor, their attorneys led by Mr. Femi Falana, are understandably alarmed that ten of the detainees are being tried for treason. Past that, the query is: what is occurring to nearly all of the detainees who’re both not being prosecuted, or who’re being allegedly prosecuted secretly, in accordance with human rights watchers? The police and different related legislation enforcers ought to deal with their circumstances with dispatch and the equity they deserve.
The worldwide human rights watchdog, Amnesty Worldwide, lately referred to as for the unconditional launch of over 1,000 #EndBadGovernance protesters who’re at the moment in jail custody nationwide following their participation within the protest.
Equally, the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan,Transparency Worldwide (TI), famend human rights activist Femi Falana, and others have vociferously urged the federal authorities to expedite the discharge of the protesters and different people being detained in reference to the protest.
In accordance with Falana, SAN, no fewer than 2,111 protesters had been arrested in reference to the protest, out of which 1,403 have been secretly arraigned in numerous courts and ordered to be remanded in jail custody on account of an absence of authorized illustration. This comes after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja reportedly granted the police a 60-day extension to detain 124 protesters, together with at the very least 22 minors. In one other improvement, a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja issued an order freezing the financial institution accounts of 32 people and corporations allegedly linked to the #EndBadGovernance protest. It’s noteworthy that earlier than the protest, the Federal Authorities and a few state governments overtly acknowledged that the correct to protest is a constitutional proper and, subsequently, urged the would-be protesters to conduct their protest in a peaceable method devoid of violence. The Lagos State authorities not solely permitted the would-be protesters to protest but additionally directed them to take action in designated locations in Lagos. Nevertheless, the protest has culminated within the arrest and detention of protesters who’ve been thrown into jail on accusations of terrorism, treason, and treasonable felony beneath the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act. Ten of the protesters who had been arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe had been final Monday, arraigned earlier than a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja on a six-count cost bordering on alleged treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit a felony and inciting to mutiny, an offence punishable beneath part 97 of the penal code.
The defendants are equally accused of levying struggle in opposition to the state to intimidate the president by attacking and injuring cops and burning police stations, the Excessive Court docket advanced, the NCC advanced, the Kano printing press, the Kano Authorities Home and a number of other different buildings. All ten protesters pleaded not responsible to the six-count cost. It’s unlucky that the protest, which was properly based on the hardship Nigerians are going by means of on account of the financial downturn within the nation was marred in some locations by violence and assault on some public personnel and utilities. Nevertheless, the Tinubu authorities ought to deal with this matter with the utmost warning in order to not ship a flawed sign to the world that the federal government is insensitive to residents’ proper to protest. The continued detention of those protesters with out trial and the freezing of their financial institution accounts are usually not appropriate with democracy and will set off one other spherical of protests.
Authorities ought to be seen to put the groundwork for peace. In addition to, the detainees have been saved in custody for longer than permitted by the structure; and this could fear all democrats. The reality is that younger individuals on this nation—these within the age bracket of, say, 18 to 45, who might technically be categorised because the youthful technology—are seething with anger, maybe now greater than ever, over the way in which they’re always being shortchanged in Nigeria. They’re indignant concerning the nation’s deteriorating politics, rising youth unemployment, the failed training system, and plenty of different anomalies. The paradox is that Nigerian youth represent a big proportion of our inhabitants, It’s worrisome that political officeholders who’ve looted the treasury are freely strolling the streets untouched. Do we’ve got two prison justice methods in Nigeria—one for the wealthy and one other for the poor? The painful facet is that whereas there are ample legal guidelines in opposition to police brutality and human rights violations in Nigeria, the Nigerian police nonetheless go about arresting and detaining suspects and dumping them in jail with out bail or trial. As stipulated within the 1999 Structure, each citizen is presumed harmless till confirmed responsible by a court docket of legislation of competent jurisdiction.
Moreover, any one who is arrested or detained shall be told in writing inside 24 hours, in a language he understands, of the details and grounds for his arrest or detention. If an individual is arrested both to be charged in court docket or upon affordable suspicion of committing an offence, she or he should be charged in court docket inside an affordable time not exceeding 48 hours, failing which he ought to be granted bail. It’s self-destructive to proceed shortchanging the younger individuals, the leaders of tomorrow. The great thing about democracy, in distinction to the totalitarianism and dictatorship of the army regimes in Nigeria, is that residents are free to precise their opinions with none type of intimidation, persecution, or victimisation. The rule of legislation must reign supreme over the arbitrary and capricious train of police energy.
Peaceable protest is a elementary human proper enshrined within the Nigerian Structure. The detention of a suspect in jail with out bail or trial is unconstitutional and actionable in legislation. In a democracy, the federal government should respect the voices of its residents. Peaceable protests are a way for individuals to precise their views, grievances, and calls for.
