•Lawyers’ protest in Lagos
Lawyers in Lagos State yesterday trooped out in large numbers to hold a protest against continued maltreatment by the police in the state.
The lawyers numbering over 700 came from the five judicial divisions including Ikeja, Lagos, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry, reports Daily Independent.
They converged very early on the Ikeja Bar Centre from where they marched on to the neighbouring Lagos State Police Command headquarters and major streets of Ikeja GRA.
They were joined in the protest by colleagues from Ota, Ogun State branch of the NBA, in solidarity with the Lagos State branches of the Bar.
The protest march had in attendance, Mr. Seyi Olawunmi of Ikeja branch, other NBA chairmen present and other top personalities like Mr. Olabisi Makanjuola, Lagos NBA chairman; Tunde Thanny of Ikorodu branch, Mr. Emeka Ralph, Badagry NBA chairman and Mr. Wale Adegoke, NBA Ota branch.
The protest followed what they described as unlawful detention of their colleague, Olumide Shonupe, who they said refused to pay N30,000 to bail his client involved in a civil matter at Gowon Estate Police Division.
Shonupe was said to have spent three days in the cell between December 30, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
The protesting lawyers led by leaders of the NBA branches and rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), carried placards with different inscriptions, condemning the high handedness of the police and their flagrant disregard to rule of law and human rights.
Falana berated the police at Gowon Estate, Ipaja, for detaining Shonupe who he said was performing his legitimate duty as a lawyer.
He said: “We decided to come together to protest against police brutality because of the maltreatment of our colleague, Olumide Shonupe, by the DPO, Gowon Estate Station, Ipaja.
“We are making a case through him that Nigerian lawyers will no longer allow brutalisation of lawyers and indeed other citizens.
“The NBA wants a full investigation of the incident. Happily, the CP announced today that a high powered investigation is already on-going in the matter.”
Falana said the CP, Adegoke Fayoade, also told lawyers that they should be prepared to be members of that committee.
He said whatever might be the report of the investigation committee, the NBA in addition is taking steps to file actions to protect the human rights of their colleagues to make a point that if anything of that nature happens to any lawyer, the NBA will take it up.
The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Seyi Olawunmi, also condemned the action of the divisional police officer of Gowon Estate and called for a thorough investigation which would involve the NBA.
Olawunmi said that the protest was not about their colleague but it was about seeking justice.
“If our member has behaved in an unruly manner, let the law take its course.
“Lawyers are not above the law and we need to press the fact that this is about an ordinary man on the street.
“So we are not coming out because it is our colleague that is involved but we are saying if you go to a police station as a Nigerian, you have a right to be treated in a civil manner that you deserve.”
