INDEPENDENCE DAY 2024: Nigeria Police recieve knocks for ‘unlawful’ detention of Kano lawyers
The Nigeria Police have been dismissed as unprofessional, undemocratic, crude and uncivilised by legal practitioners in Kano State after they arrested and detained some members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kano branch.
The lawyers who spoke with Online News condemned the arrest of their members by the Nigerian Police, saying their fundamenatal human rights have been trampled upon and vowing to make the police pay through the law.
The NBA also demanded that the lawyers be compensated for the unlawful detention that they suffered in the hand of the police.
Reports said the Kano-based lawyers were invited by the commissioner of police in Kano on Monday and they honoured the invitation. But they were rounded up by the police, detained in Kano before they were moved to Abuja, ostensibly on the order of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
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The police have so far refused to give any reason for the arrest and detention, as their specific whereabouts are still unknown.
Chairman of the branch, Usman Umar Fari wrote in a letter to the police:
“We write to express our deep concern regarding the arrest and detention of the members of Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM) two of whom are members of the Nigerian Bar Association (Kano branch), who were detained yesterday (Monday) and taken to an unknown destination, for planning a peaceful protest.
“This action is a gross violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and association, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended) as well as African Charter for Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
“The continued detention undermines democratic principles and the rule of law. We hold the Nigeria Police Force responsible for their safety and well-being.
“We therefore demand immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, compensation including unreserved apology for unlawful detention and violation of their rights.”
The letter was copied to the National Human Rights Commission, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation and the president, Nigerian Bar Association.
