Rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Police, demanding that all protesters currently in custody be charged in court before August 25, 2024, or face legal action. Falana’s call for urgent action follows claims of violations of the protesters’ legal rights.

According to Falana, out of 2,111 arrested protesters, 1,403 have been brought before various courts, but many were remanded in prison due to the lack of legal representation. He criticized the authorities for preventing the legal representation of these individuals, even though the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had publicly offered legal support. Individual lawyers who sought bail for the detainees were reportedly not informed about the court proceedings.

Falana contended that denying the suspects legal representation violates their fundamental right to a fair trial, as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. He pointed out that politically exposed individuals accused of corruption often receive preferential treatment, including timely information about their court dates and lenient bail conditions.

He has given the authorities an ultimatum: if all detained protesters are not formally charged before August 25, 2024, the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) will seek their immediate release through the Federal High Court. ASCAB also plans to challenge any legal actions taken against the protests by state governments and the Federal Capital Territory.

Falana emphasized that addressing the root causes of the protests, which reflect deeper socio-economic issues such as poverty, inequality, and inadequate social services, is essential for achieving meaningful justice and resolving Nigeria’s political problems.