The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced free legal services for citizens whose rights may be infringed during ongoing nationwide protests against poor governance.
NBA President Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) said the initiative recognises “the fundamental and guaranteed constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest”.
In a statement issued on Thursday through NBA National Publicity Secretary Akorede Lawal, Mr Maikyau instructed the chairpersons of all 130 NBA branches to address any cases of rights violations, harassment, or intimidation by law enforcement agents or protesters.
“The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), yesterday, 31 July 2024, directed all the Chairmen/Chairpersons of the 130 branches of the NBA to ensure that their respective human rights committees take up observed or reported cases of breach of fundamental right(s) of any citizen, harassment, intimidation or torture perpetrated by law enforcement agents, the protesters or other identified members of the public in the course of the protest.
“Chairmen/Chairpersons of NBA branches have also been directed to set up situation monitoring committees to monitor and report activities and interactions between law enforcement agents and protesters.
The association has also established situation monitoring committees to oversee interactions between security forces and demonstrators. NBA members involved in monitoring are encouraged to complete and submit forms for record-keeping and further action if necessary.
The association urged citizens and security agencies to exercise their rights within the bounds of the law
To coordinate these efforts, the NBA has formed legal support teams across the country, led by senior officials including the association’s first vice president, Mrs Linda Rose Bala; the Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Sir Steve Adehi (SAN); and the Chairman of NBA Human Rights Institute, Mr Chinonye Obiagwu (SAN).
The NBA president has written to the Inspector General of Police, seeking collaboration in this initiative.
As protests began on 1 August, the NBA urged citizens and security agencies to “exercise their rights peacefully and within the bounds of the law”. The statement read: “The security agencies are also urged to be professional and observe human rights in their duty to enforce the law.”
The demonstrations, which started on Thursday in several states, call for an end to what protesters describe as bad governance in the country.
