1,403 Protesters Secretly Arraigned in Courts
Amidst reports that over 2,000 individuals were detained during the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests held from August 1st to 10th, prominent rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has disclosed the arrest of seven Polish students participating in an exchange program at Bayero University, Kano. These students were reportedly detained for taking photographs during the protests.
Additionally, 1,403 of the detained individuals have been surreptitiously arraigned in various courts across the country.
The detained protesters were ordered to be remanded in prison custody, as many lacked legal representation. This occurred despite the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) publicly announcing its intention to provide legal defense for those arrested.
In a statement titled ‘Halt the Clampdown on Protesters,’Falana, who also chairs the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding that all detained protesters be charged in court.
Falana highlighted the precarious situation of the seven Polish students, stating, “Seven Polish students, who were part of an exchange programme at Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for taking photographs during the protest. They may be charged with espionage to create the impression that foreign interest groups instigated the protests.”
Falana further demanded that whenever the arrested protesters are to be arraigned, adequate notice must be given to allow them to contact the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and their families to secure legal representation.
Nationwide Arrests
Falana provided a breakdown of the number of protesters arrested across different states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja:
1. Kano — 873
2. Jigawa — 403
3. Katsina — 120
4. Gombe — 111
5. Sokoto — 110
6. Borno — 99
7. Yobe — 90
8. Bauchi — 60
9. Plateau — 51
10. Kaduna — 50
11. FCT — 50
12. Nasarawa — 40
13. Niger — 25
14. Zamfara — 19
15. Cross River — 10
Suspected Looters Receive Preferential Treatment
Falana also condemned the authorities for denying the detained protesters legal representation, describing it as a violation of their fundamental right to a fair hearing, as enshrined in Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
He contrasted the treatment of the protesters with that of politically exposed individuals accused of looting public funds, who are often informed in advance of their court dates and granted bail on favorable terms. Falana noted that such individuals are even permitted to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Highlighting the absurdity of the charges against the protesters, Falana revealed that 783 of those arrested in Kano were accused of displaying the Russian flag during the protest. Additionally, a tailor sewing the flag was also arrested. Falana questioned the legitimacy of such charges, especially in a country where flags of nations like the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Israel are commonly hoisted by hotels and churches alike.
