Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer, has called the arrest of some June 12 protesters illegal.
Falana, who demanded an apology from the police for all protesters arrested during peaceful protests in Abuja, Lagos, and Calabar, 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.
“More so, the police had purposefully violated Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which states that “where a person or organization notifies the police of his or her 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 is held, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting, rally, or procession is held”
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“Since the police admitted that the protesters committed no crime, why were some of them arrested?” Why weren’t the so-called hoodlums and miscreants arrested who planned to cause mayhem and violence against 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 peace in the Federal Capital Territory?”.
