The Nigerian Bar Association has set up free legal support services, as a result of the ongoing hunger protest for anyone whose fundamental human rights may be violated.
Yakubu Maikyau, the association’s president, in a statement issued on Thursday by the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, explained that directives have been sent out to all chairpersons of the 130 branches of the association to take up cases of breach of fundamental human rights of persons involved in the protest.
He urged law enforcement agents to be professional and respect the human rights of others in the discharge of their duty while advising participants to go about the protest peacefully.
He said that to monitor activities between law enforcement agents and protesters, a situation monitoring committee has been set up.
According to the statement: “The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, has yesterday, July 31, 2024, directed all the Chairmen/Chairpersons of the 130 branches of the NBA to ensure that their respective human rights committees take up observed or reported cases of breach of fundamental right (s) of any citizen, harassment, intimidation or torture perpetrated by law enforcement agents, the protesters or other identified members of the public in the course of the protest.”
The statement added that chairpersons of NBA branches have also been directed to set up Situation Monitoring Committee, SMC, to monitor and report activities and interactions between law enforcement agents and protesters, saying that to this end, an online monitoring form has been provided, and it can be accessed from the link https://rb.gy/q5xqg7.
He explained that members of the SMC and other members of the NBA engaged in the monitoring exercise are encouraged to complete the form and submit the same for NBA’s record and further action where necessary.
To ensure effective coordination of the endeavour, the NBA has established Legal Support Services teams across the country headed by its first Vice President, Mrs Linda Rose Bala; the Chairman NBA-SPIDEL, Sir Steve Adehi; and the Chairman, NBA Human Rights Institute, Mr Chinonye Obiagwu.
The NBA President has also written to the Inspector General of Police for collaboration in this regard.
As the protest commences Thursday, August 1, 2024, NBA encouraged citizens, including its members who are joining the protest to exercise their rights peacefully and within the bounds of the law, pointing out that the security agencies are also urged to be professional and observe human rights in their duty to enforce the law.
The NBA hunger protest is scheduled to be held in all 36 states of the country and the FCT and is to start today, August 1, and last till August 10.
The protest is geared towards bringing government’s attention to the economic hardship currently being faced by its citizens.
