Falana kicks as Police arrest #OccupyLekkiTollgate protesters
.Mobile court grants bail
The Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, Femi Falanahas kicked against the arrest of young persons, who participated in Nigeria’s EndSARS protests.
In a statement obtained by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, Falana, said: “The command has arrested forty (40) suspects at Lekki Tollgate plaza, Lagos State, on Saturday, February 13, 2021, for conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and violation of COVID-19 protocols. The suspects had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate plaza creating tension and behaving in such a manner that could cause a breach of public peace without due regard for COVID-19 protocols major of which are the use of nose masks and social distancing. “The command has, however, arraigned the suspects today(same day) to the mobile court at Panti, Yaba accordingly but were however granted bail by the court.
“They will appear in court on the next date of adjournment, March 2, 2021, with the certificate of COVID-19 test. The command, therefore, assured the general public that it will always discharge its statutory duties as expected within the ambit of the law while appealing to Lagosians to be law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses.”
He stated: “By arresting the protesters instead of providing them with adequate security the Police engaged in a provocative contravention of section 83 (4) of the Nigeria Police Act which states as follows: ‘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’.
“ASCAB calls on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters because they did not commit any criminal offense by exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly guaranteed by sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. “However, if the protesters are dragged before a criminal court by the Police after their illegal arrest and detention, we call on the Judiciary in Lagos State not to allow the courts to be used to cover up the monstrous illegality perpetrated in Lagos this morning.”
