September 04, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced free legal representation for arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters currently being held by the police.
NBA President, Afam Josiah Osigwe SAN, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, directed the association’s branches to monitor the trials of the protesters.
Osigwe added that the association’s legal teams will be present in courtrooms across the country to monitor proceedings and ensure that the rule of law is upheld and justice is served.
According to Osigwe, the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee (NBA-CLC) will work closely with the chairmen and human rights committees of NBA branches in regions where protesters are being prosecuted.
This, he noted, is to ensure that no defendant suffers injustice.
“I have directed the branches of the Nigerian Bar Association to monitor the trials of the #EndBadGovernance protesters. Additionally, I have launched a pro-bono support initiative for protesters who lack legal representation.
“The Nigerian Bar Association Citizens’ Liberties Committee (NBA-CLC) has been tasked with liaising closely with the Chairmen and Human Rights Committees of NBA branches in regions where protesters are currently being prosecuted. This ensures that no defendant suffers injustice.
“The NBA legal team will continue to monitor court proceedings to ensure that trials are conducted with strict adherence to due process, safeguarding the legal rights of all defendants. The Nigerian Bar Association legal teams are in courts and will continue to monitor proceedings to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, the human rights of defendants are protected, and justice is served”, Osigwe said.
THEWILL reports that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of ten protesters of the recent #EndBadGovernance protest at the Kuje Correctional Center pending the hearing and ruling on their bail application slated for September 11, 2024. The court, however, ordered that the female among the ten defendants be remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa state.
According to the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano”, among others.
The police specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
