*NBA-NEC Asks Federal Government To Carry Out Thorough &
Independent Investigation Of Culprits Behind The Killings Of
Protesters
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association
has demanded the immediate release of all arrested protesters in
the End SARS movement, as well as, a thorough and independent
investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate shooting that occurred on
Tuesday the 20th of October, 2020.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The NEC made this known via a communique at the end of the
emergency NEC meeting held on Thursday the 22nd of October, 2020,
the statement was co-signed by Mr. Olumide Akpata and Mrs. Joyce
Oduah, President and General Secretary respectively.
The NEC also condemned the wanton destruction of private and
public properties by hoodlums who hijacked the protest, and the NEC
calls for their arrest and prosecution after careful
investigation.
See the communique below;
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) OF THE NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION (NBA) HELD ON THURSDAY, 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER
2020
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 An Emergency Meeting of the NBA NEC was called by the NBA
President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and held on 22nd day of October
2020.
1.2 The sole agenda for deliberation was the State of the Nation
following the nationwide protests by the #ENDSARS movement, the
shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, the
vandalization and looting of public and private assets across the
country, the general breakdown of law and order and matters
ancillary thereto.
2.0 RESOLUTIONS
At the end of extended deliberations, the NBA NEC, among other
things, resolved as follows:
2.1 That NEC ratifies and adopts all actions and steps so far taken
by the NBA President in respect of the #ENDSARS protests including
(i) the statements, interviews and press conferences that have been
issued/granted by the NBA President; (ii) the pro bono scheme set
up to provide legal support to peaceful protesters across the
country; (iii) the on-going collaboration with the National Human
Rights Commission regarding the activities of the Independent
Investigative Panel set up to publicly inquire into human rights
violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other units of the
Nigerian Police; (iv) the commitment to providing free legal aid
to, and representing victims of, human rights violations before the
various Judicial Panels of Inquiry established by State Governments
across the country; and (v) the partnership with the House of
Representatives towards the urgent enactment of a law that will
make the Nigerian Police more responsive and accountable to the
citizenry.
2.2 That for the avoidance of doubt, the NBA unequivocally
deplores and deprecates the assault, intimidation and killing of
unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate and across the country and
reiterates that the right to peaceful protest is an inherent right
of citizens in any democracy.
2.3 That the Federal Government of Nigeria and all relevant
authorities, must as a matter of urgency, carry out a thorough,
independent and transparent investigation to identify those who
ordered, or are behind the shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza and to
definitively confirm the identity of those killed, missing or
severely wounded during the incident.
2.4 That the NBA should conscientiously and actively follow up
with aforesaid investigations and following the investigations,
immediately commence/press for the commencement of criminal
prosecution both in Nigeria and at the relevant international fora
against all agencies and persons involved, complicit or otherwise
indicted in the Lekki Toll Plaza incident and similar occurrences
across the country.
2.5 That all detained peaceful protesters should be released
unconditionally forthwith. The NBA Branches in collaboration with
the National Secretariat and the States’ Attorneys-General should
continue to push for and secure the immediate and unconditional
release of peaceful protesters who have been detained by various
State Police Commands across the country.
2.6 That the NBA condemns in strongest terms possible the action
of the hoodlums who took advantage of the peaceful protests to
wantonly destroy private and public properties and calls on the
authorities to urgently investigate, arrest and prosecute those
involved in such nefarious and reprehensible activities. The NBA
further appeals to the peaceful protesters to call off the protests
and be ready to dialogue with the government so that their demands
can be appropriately addressed.
2.7 That President of Nigeria should unequivocally direct the
military and other security agencies to immediately desist from
attacking peacefully protesting citizens. He must formulate and
immediately implement, with demonstrable bona fides, a clear course
of action which would include dealing decisively with the demands
of the #ENDSARS protesters.
2.8 That as a means of containing the volatile situation in the
country, there must actionable channels of communication between
the government and the protesters and that the NBA President is
mandated to proactively intervene, mediate between the #ENDSARS
protesters and the government and work towards a resolution (with
clear timelines and deliverables) that will be acceptable to all
parties involved.
2.9 That there is need for a total overhaul of the Nigeria
Police and all security and para-military organisations. More
attention should be paid to the recruitment process of the Police
and the qualification for enrollment into the various security
agencies should be improved upon. The issue of the remuneration and
welfare of the officers should also be holistically addressed.
2.10 That the NBA is worried and concerned about (i) the impact
of the ongoing crisis on the administration of justice across the
country following the destruction of different courts in various
States by hoodlums; and (ii) the livelihood of its members who
practice in, or around those courts. The NEC accordingly mandates
the NBA President to actively engage with relevant authorities in
the affected States with a view to ensuring that business resumes
at those courts as quickly as possible.
DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER 2020
________________________ ___________________________
OLUMIDE AKPATA JOYCE ODUAH, FICMC
PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY
*NBA-NEC Asks Federal Government To Carry Out Thorough &
Independent Investigation Of Culprits Behind The Killings Of
Protesters
The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association
has demanded the immediate release of all arrested protesters in
the End SARS movement, as well as, a thorough and independent
investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate shooting that occurred on
Tuesday the 20th of October, 2020.
The NEC made this known via a communique at the end of the
emergency NEC meeting held on Thursday the 22nd of October, 2020,
the statement was co-signed by Mr. Olumide Akpata and Mrs. Joyce
Oduah, President and General Secretary respectively.
The NEC also condemned the wanton destruction of private and
public properties by hoodlums who hijacked the protest, and the NEC
calls for their arrest and prosecution after careful
investigation.
See the communique below;
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) OF THE NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION (NBA) HELD ON THURSDAY, 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER
2020
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 An Emergency Meeting of the NBA NEC was called by the NBA
President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and held on 22nd day of October
2020.
1.2 The sole agenda for deliberation was the State of the Nation
following the nationwide protests by the #ENDSARS movement, the
shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, the
vandalization and looting of public and private assets across the
country, the general breakdown of law and order and matters
ancillary thereto.
2.0 RESOLUTIONS
At the end of extended deliberations, the NBA NEC, among other
things, resolved as follows:
2.1 That NEC ratifies and adopts all actions and steps so far taken
by the NBA President in respect of the #ENDSARS protests including
(i) the statements, interviews and press conferences that have been
issued/granted by the NBA President; (ii) the pro bono scheme set
up to provide legal support to peaceful protesters across the
country; (iii) the on-going collaboration with the National Human
Rights Commission regarding the activities of the Independent
Investigative Panel set up to publicly inquire into human rights
violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other units of the
Nigerian Police; (iv) the commitment to providing free legal aid
to, and representing victims of, human rights violations before the
various Judicial Panels of Inquiry established by State Governments
across the country; and (v) the partnership with the House of
Representatives towards the urgent enactment of a law that will
make the Nigerian Police more responsive and accountable to the
citizenry.
2.2 That for the avoidance of doubt, the NBA unequivocally
deplores and deprecates the assault, intimidation and killing of
unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate and across the country and
reiterates that the right to peaceful protest is an inherent right
of citizens in any democracy.
2.3 That the Federal Government of Nigeria and all relevant
authorities, must as a matter of urgency, carry out a thorough,
independent and transparent investigation to identify those who
ordered, or are behind the shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza and to
definitively confirm the identity of those killed, missing or
severely wounded during the incident.
2.4 That the NBA should conscientiously and actively follow up
with aforesaid investigations and following the investigations,
immediately commence/press for the commencement of criminal
prosecution both in Nigeria and at the relevant international fora
against all agencies and persons involved, complicit or otherwise
indicted in the Lekki Toll Plaza incident and similar occurrences
across the country.
2.5 That all detained peaceful protesters should be released
unconditionally forthwith. The NBA Branches in collaboration with
the National Secretariat and the States’ Attorneys-General should
continue to push for and secure the immediate and unconditional
release of peaceful protesters who have been detained by various
State Police Commands across the country.
2.6 That the NBA condemns in strongest terms possible the action
of the hoodlums who took advantage of the peaceful protests to
wantonly destroy private and public properties and calls on the
authorities to urgently investigate, arrest and prosecute those
involved in such nefarious and reprehensible activities. The NBA
further appeals to the peaceful protesters to call off the protests
and be ready to dialogue with the government so that their demands
can be appropriately addressed.
2.7 That President of Nigeria should unequivocally direct the
military and other security agencies to immediately desist from
attacking peacefully protesting citizens. He must formulate and
immediately implement, with demonstrable bona fides, a clear course
of action which would include dealing decisively with the demands
of the #ENDSARS protesters.
2.8 That as a means of containing the volatile situation in the
country, there must actionable channels of communication between
the government and the protesters and that the NBA President is
mandated to proactively intervene, mediate between the #ENDSARS
protesters and the government and work towards a resolution (with
clear timelines and deliverables) that will be acceptable to all
parties involved.
2.9 That there is need for a total overhaul of the Nigeria
Police and all security and para-military organisations. More
attention should be paid to the recruitment process of the Police
and the qualification for enrollment into the various security
agencies should be improved upon. The issue of the remuneration and
welfare of the officers should also be holistically addressed.
2.10 That the NBA is worried and concerned about (i) the impact
of the ongoing crisis on the administration of justice across the
country following the destruction of different courts in various
States by hoodlums; and (ii) the livelihood of its members who
practice in, or around those courts. The NEC accordingly mandates
the NBA President to actively engage with relevant authorities in
the affected States with a view to ensuring that business resumes
at those courts as quickly as possible.
DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER 2020
________________________ ___________________________
OLUMIDE AKPATA JOYCE ODUAH, FICMC
PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY