Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, says the police has no right to prevent peaceful protest, hence should apologise for violating the fundamental right of Nigerians that protested on June 12 Democracy Day to demand good governance.
Falana who said this in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that peaceful protests are fundamental rights of Nigerians as provided for in the 1999 constitution.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that police teargassed the protesters in Lagos and Abuja, while others were arrested but later released.
“Since the protesters who were arrested during the peaceful rallies did not commit any offence, they have since regained their liberty. But the Police Authorities ought to apologise for violating the fundamental right of the protesters to freedom of expression,” the statement said.
“More so that the Police had deliberately contravened Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 which provides that ‘Where a person or organization notifies the police of his or its 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 will take place shall mobilize personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.”
“The lessons of the unfortunate event of yesterday should be learnt by all sides of the debate on human freedom. The nation should henceforth be spared the periodic assaults on the civic space.”
