Group Protests Over Attack On Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN

A group, the “Movement for Progress Initiative (MPI)”, a
Non-Governmental Organisation, on Friday staged a peaceful protest
at the entrance of the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos
over what it described as an organized assault and embarrassment
unleashed on the person of Chief Mike Ozekhome,(SAN) at the 14th
Chief Gani Fawehimi memorial lecture in Lagos state by some
suspected hired hooligans.

The group noted with regrets that Chief Ozekhome, a renowned
constitutional lawyer and human rights activist who had always
defended the course of the masses irrespective of their social
status, gender or race could be derided in such a despicable manner
at a public function in Lagos for no just cause.

It noted that Chief Ozekhome having defended certain persons
alleged to have participated in pillaging the nation’s treasury was
his professional decision and not strong a reason to initiate an
unwarranted attack on him.

The group which chanted solidarity songs and brandished placards
with inscriptions such as, “Attack on Chief Ozekhome is unlawful
and condemnable” “A suspect is presumed innocent until proven
guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction”, “Injury to one person
is injury to all” stated that the Nigerian Criminal jurisprudence
clearly states that an accused person shall be treated as innocent
until otherwise proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction
and therefore called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to
condemn this despicable act on one of its own.

Speaking to newsmen, National secretary of the group,
Peterclaver Egbochue said, “As concerned Nigerians on the platform
of MPI, we are calling on other well-meaning Nigerians particularly
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to condemn this uncouth
behavior/act of sponsoring hooligans to embarrass, molest, harass
and intimidate some patriotic Nigerians for their professional
decisions.

“These are people who have sacrificed their lives, their
resources, time and everything to defend the masses, and protect
the sanctity of the human person in Nigeria. Injury to one is
injury to all. Today, it’s Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), tomorrow;
nobody knows who will be next.”

Photos Below

A group, the “Movement for Progress Initiative (MPI)”, a
Non-Governmental Organisation, on Friday staged a peaceful protest
at the entrance of the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos
over what it described as an organized assault and embarrassment
unleashed on the person of Chief Mike Ozekhome,(SAN) at the 14th
Chief Gani Fawehimi memorial lecture in Lagos state by some
suspected hired hooligans.

The group noted with regrets that Chief Ozekhome, a renowned
constitutional lawyer and human rights activist who had always
defended the course of the masses irrespective of their social
status, gender or race could be derided in such a despicable manner
at a public function in Lagos for no just cause.

It noted that Chief Ozekhome having defended certain persons
alleged to have participated in pillaging the nation’s treasury was
his professional decision and not strong a reason to initiate an
unwarranted attack on him.

The group which chanted solidarity songs and brandished placards
with inscriptions such as, “Attack on Chief Ozekhome is unlawful
and condemnable” “A suspect is presumed innocent until proven
guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction”, “Injury to one person
is injury to all” stated that the Nigerian Criminal jurisprudence
clearly states that an accused person shall be treated as innocent
until otherwise proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction
and therefore called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to
condemn this despicable act on one of its own.

Speaking to newsmen, National secretary of the group,
Peterclaver Egbochue said, “As concerned Nigerians on the platform
of MPI, we are calling on other well-meaning Nigerians particularly
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to condemn this uncouth
behavior/act of sponsoring hooligans to embarrass, molest, harass
and intimidate some patriotic Nigerians for their professional
decisions.

“These are people who have sacrificed their lives, their
resources, time and everything to defend the masses, and protect
the sanctity of the human person in Nigeria. Injury to one is
injury to all. Today, it’s Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), tomorrow;
nobody knows who will be next.”

Photos Below