Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, recently commented on the challenging situation the police may face in prosecuting the 783 individuals detained for waving the Russian flag during a hunger protest. Falana questioned how the court would view this action as a crime when many establishments in Nigeria display foreign flags without repercussions.
He also highlighted the arrest of seven Polish students in Kano for allegedly taking photos during the protest, suggesting that they could be charged with espionage. Falana expressed doubts about the likelihood of successful prosecution in a country where various foreign flags are commonly seen.
Falana revealed that a total of 2,111 individuals were arrested nationwide during the protests, with many facing challenges in receiving legal representation. He criticized the denial of legal aid to the detained suspects, emphasizing the violation of their fundamental rights to fair trial.
The government’s actions drew sharp criticism from Falana, who denounced the discrimination in legal treatment between suspects of protest-related activities and politically exposed individuals accused of corruption. He expressed concerns about the arbitrary arrests of citizens during the protests, raising alarm over the unjust detention of individuals with dissenting views.
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