Aiming to uphold citizens’ constitutional rights to assembly and protest, the Nigerian Bar Association has established pro bono legal support services to assist individuals whose fundamental human rights may be infringed during protests.
Citizens recently began nationwide protests demanding an end to poor governance in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, NBA President Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) instructed all 130 branch chairpersons to address any violations of protesters’ rights.
Participants were urged to protest peacefully, with a call for law enforcement to act professionally and respect human rights.
A committee has been formed to oversee the interactions between law enforcement and protesters.
The NBA directed branch committees to address any observed or reported rights violations and established situation monitoring committees to report on activities during the protests.
The NBA has designated Legal Support Services teams across the country, led by various officials, to coordinate these efforts and has reached out to collaborate with the Inspector General of Police.
Emphasizing the importance of upholding the law, both citizens and security forces were advised to act within legal boundaries.
As the protests commenced on August 1, 2024, the NBA encouraged peaceful and lawful exercising of rights by all participants.
Security agencies were urged to uphold professionalism and human rights standards in their enforcement duties, as highlighted in the statement.