Falana demands arrest, prosecution of police officers who attacked Lagos protesting pensioners
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and prosecute police personnel accused of violently disrupting a peaceful rally by pensioners in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Falana, in a statement, said the disruption amounted to a violation of the protesters’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest, particularly as the pensioners were demonstrating over alleged delays in the payment of their pensions by the Lagos State Government.
He cited the Court of Appeal’s decision in Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigerian People’s Party (2008) 12 WRN 65, in which the court affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court nullifying the requirement for police permits to hold rallies in Nigeria.
According to Falana, the court recognised rallies and placard-carrying demonstrations as legitimate forms of expression on issues affecting government and citizens.
He quoted Justice Adekeye, who held that requiring Nigerians to obtain a pass before holding a rally would be “primitive” and “retrogressive” in a democratic society.
Falana further argued that the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020 places a responsibility on the police to provide security for rallies, meetings and processions rather than disrupt them.
He said Section 83(4) of the Act imposes a duty on the police officer in charge of an area where a rally, meeting or procession is to take place to mobilise personnel to provide security cover.
“The violent disruption of the peaceful rally of pensioners at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State is a complete violation of the rights of the protesters to assemble and protest against the failure of the Lagos State Government to pay their pension as and when due,” Falana said.
He described the alleged police action as a breach of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act and accused the officers involved of inflicting physical injuries on protesters without legal justification.
Falana therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the incident and prosecute the officers responsible.
