Human rights lawyer, Olukoya
Ogungbeje has dragged the federal government before the Federal High Court over
the clampdown on ‘Revolution Now’ protesters, who claimed to be demanding
better governance in Nigeria.
In a suit filed before Justice
Chuka Obiozor of the Ikoyi Division of the Court, Ogungbeje is praying the
court “to order the police to release everyone in its detention”.
He argued that protest is a
guaranteed right of every Nigeria according to the constitution of the country.
The lawyer joined the Department
of State Services (DSS), Inspector-General of Police, and Attorney-General of
the Federation in the ex parte suit on the violation of fundamental human
rights.
The lawyer told the court he was
part of the protest but was barred along with other people in Lagos from
carrying out their constitutional right.
He stated that the attacks on him
and other protesters were a gross violation of their fundamental human right to
peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Ogungbeje said, “The right to
peaceful protest is a constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right guaranteed
under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By engaging in peaceful protest,
the applicant and other persons have not committed any offence known to law to
warrant the treatment meted out to them by the respondents and their agents.
“The acts and actions of the
respondents have infringed on the provisions of the Constitution and the rights
of the protesters.”
The case will come up on August
14.
Recall that the
‘RevolutionNow’ protesters had embarked on a nationwide protest but were
dispersed by police and other security agencies with over 50 protesters
arrested and detained across the country.
Omoyele Sowore, the convener of
the protest and 2019 presidential candidate, was arrested two days before the
protest began.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of a federal
high court sitting in Abuja had granted a request of the DSS to detain Sowore
for 45 more days.
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