Ekiti NBA Branch Condemns Police Clampdown On Yoruba Nation Protesters

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikere-Ekiti branch has
condemned Saturday’s clampdown on peaceful Yoruba nation agitators
in Lagos, describing the act as antithetical and unknown to any
democratic settings across the globe.

The chairperson of Ikere-Ekiti branch of NBA, Kikelomo Owolabi
who spoke with newsmen on Monday heralding the 2021 press week of
the branch with the theme, ‘ Insecurity and Rule of Law: Nigeria at
a Crossroad ‘ said the association was astonished that agents of
government would pounce on people peacefully agitating.

She called on the federal government not to turn the country
into a lawless one through a sustained clampdown on perceived
anti-government voices but allowed residents to express themselves
without any fear of attack or victimization.

Owolabi added that the people have the legitimate rights under
the constitution to demonstrate peacefully, saying the Sunday’s
arrest of about ten youths in a church in Abuja for wearing
anti-government clothes stands condemned by the association.

According to her, “Our association condemned the Saturday’s
attack and arrest of peaceful protesters in Lagos, this development
is strange to us because we are a democracy and not in a lawless
country.

“It is our right to demonstrate peacefully in the streets and
the actions of the police and other law enforcement agencies is
condemnable.”

As part of activities for the law week, Owolabi revealed that
the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu will be
delivering a lecture titled, ‘The Rule of Law: A Corner Stone of
Peace and Insecurity in Nigeria ‘ in honour of the retired supreme
court judge from the town, Justice Ekundayo Ogundare.

She added that the second Wole Olanipekun SAN public lecture
will also be held alongside the sensitization of members on High
Court civil procedure rules by Justice Omotosho which will be
chaired by the acting Chief Judge of Ekiti, Justice Oyewole
Adeyeye.

The chairperson who lamented that the lawyers are yet to recover
from the last strike action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria
(JUSUN) reiterated the commitment of the branch to the
implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

“For us, the autonomy of the judiciary is non-negotiable and
don’t forget the strike by JUSUN, we were deeply affected. The
financial autonomy will further improve the justice system in our
country,” she said.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikere-Ekiti branch has
condemned Saturday’s clampdown on peaceful Yoruba nation agitators
in Lagos, describing the act as antithetical and unknown to any
democratic settings across the globe.

The chairperson of Ikere-Ekiti branch of NBA, Kikelomo Owolabi
who spoke with newsmen on Monday heralding the 2021 press week of
the branch with the theme, ‘ Insecurity and Rule of Law: Nigeria at
a Crossroad ‘ said the association was astonished that agents of
government would pounce on people peacefully agitating.

She called on the federal government not to turn the country
into a lawless one through a sustained clampdown on perceived
anti-government voices but allowed residents to express themselves
without any fear of attack or victimization.

Owolabi added that the people have the legitimate rights under
the constitution to demonstrate peacefully, saying the Sunday’s
arrest of about ten youths in a church in Abuja for wearing
anti-government clothes stands condemned by the association.

According to her, “Our association condemned the Saturday’s
attack and arrest of peaceful protesters in Lagos, this development
is strange to us because we are a democracy and not in a lawless
country.

“It is our right to demonstrate peacefully in the streets and
the actions of the police and other law enforcement agencies is
condemnable.”

As part of activities for the law week, Owolabi revealed that
the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu will be
delivering a lecture titled, ‘The Rule of Law: A Corner Stone of
Peace and Insecurity in Nigeria ‘ in honour of the retired supreme
court judge from the town, Justice Ekundayo Ogundare.

She added that the second Wole Olanipekun SAN public lecture
will also be held alongside the sensitization of members on High
Court civil procedure rules by Justice Omotosho which will be
chaired by the acting Chief Judge of Ekiti, Justice Oyewole
Adeyeye.

The chairperson who lamented that the lawyers are yet to recover
from the last strike action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria
(JUSUN) reiterated the commitment of the branch to the
implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

“For us, the autonomy of the judiciary is non-negotiable and
don’t forget the strike by JUSUN, we were deeply affected. The
financial autonomy will further improve the justice system in our
country,” she said.