Share this page!

Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
Twitter logo
11 Oct, 8 tweets, 2 min read
PROTEST BY LAWYERS TO GO AHEAD

A group of lawyers in Lagos State have resolved to go ahead with their planned protest on Tuesday. Despite the "dissolution" of SARS by the Inspector General of Police, journalists and peaceful protesters were violently attacked in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr. Sapara Williams, the first indigenous Nigerian Lawyer rightly posited that "a lawyer lives for a direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country". It will be a capitulation from that cause if lawyers do not take a stand against attacks on citizens.
Lawyers are among the most tormented victims of police corruption, brutality, impunity and reckless disregard for the rule of law. The late sage, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, will be turning in his grave if the voice of Nigerian lawyers is not hear at this historic time in our country.
Lawyers have suffered long years of humiliation from the Nigeria Police Force, who are supposed to be partners in the administration of justice. Lawyers have been beaten, detained and extorted for merely discharging their professional obligations. It is time for all that to end.
Despite obtaining favourable judgments for their clients against the police, many lawyers have had to beg, cajole and in some cases, 'bribe' rogue policemen before valid court orders affecting their clients are complied with.

Nigerians are tired of living in fear of the police.
It is rather ironical that peaceful protesters are still violently and openly attacked despite the pretentious declaration by the Inspector General of Police that the rights of citizens will be respected. The double-faced actions only portray the police as a lawless institution.
President Buhari should initiate a comprehensive police reform without delay.

The police should cease and desist from attacking peaceful protesters.

Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, are constitutionally guaranteed. We demand comprehensive police reform.
In the light of the foregoing, we will proceed with our peaceful protest in Lagos State on Tuesday, 13th October, 2020.

We call on patriotic and public spirited Nigerian lawyers to join us in this march for freedom.

#EndPoliceBrutality

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Inibehe Effiong

Inibehe Effiong Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @InibeheEffiong

Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
11 Oct
I do not think the protesters in Ogun State will be charged for murder as reported by some of our comrades. Murder is a capital offence. By practice, it the Ministry of Justice, not the police, that prosecutes murder cases. Before this can be done, a Legal Advice must be written.
The Advice must recommend prosecution. During my youth service, Ministry of Justice was my PPA. I used to write Legal Advice. I don't think this can be done & approved before Monday given the bureaucracy involved. The DPP must approve it. In sensitive cases, the AG must approve.
I also know that under the Administrative of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State 2018, the police cannot undertake such cases at the High Court without the AG.

My preliminary assessment is that the police will either charge them with lesser offences, or seek detention order(s).
Read 4 tweets
Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
11 Oct
It is disgusting to see some people who claim to be Buhari supporters, attacking the #EndSARS campaign.

You're degenerate beings. There are advocacies that are beyond partisan, ethnic and religious sentiments.
Some of the most vociferous Buhari supporters on Twitter are part of the #EndSARS campaign. But you are trying to discredit this campaign because you believe that Buhari is your personal property.
Are you not ashamed that the man you claim to be supporting has been watching while Nigerian citizens are continuously slaughtered by a rogue police unit?

The Vice President, the IGP claimed that they have reformed SARS. But as we all have seen, nothing has changed.
Read 6 tweets
Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
10 Oct
Sir, Section 215 (4) of the 1999 Constitution empowers you to give lawful directives to the CP; subject to the overriding directive of the IGP.

Write officially to the CP and direct him to cease & desist from attacking #EndSARS protesters in Oyo State. You've the power to do so.
The CP cannot defy you, except on the directive of the IGP.

If the IGP gives a contrary directive, instruct your Attorney General to invoke his wide powers under Section 211 (1) (c) of the Constitution and discontinue ALL criminal charges filed against protesters in Oyo State.
The @PoliceNG should not be allowed to investigate itself over the killing of Jimoh.

Therefore, I urge you to invoke your powers under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act by constituting a Judiciary Commission of Inquiry to investigate the attack on protesters and the death of Jimoh.
Read 4 tweets
Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
10 Oct
WHAT BUHARI/FG SHOULD DO

Ending SARS is part of police reform.

Disband the rogue unit immediately.

Sack the IGP now.

Constitute independent investigative panels across the 36 States to probe unresolved cases of extra-judicial killings by SARS/police.
Immediately arrest and prosecute all SARS operatives and police officers implicated in the probe.

Set-up a significant compensation fund for victims of police/SARS impunity.
Inspect every SARS/police detention facility in the country and release all those arrested and detained illegally, and arraigned those with established criminal cases before courts of competent jurisdiction.
Read 7 tweets
Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
9 Oct
The young man standing with me in this photo is Promise Etete. He was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Uyo on Tuesday on the instigation of a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Uduak Odudoh.
He arrested him for constantly criticising him and for always calling for good governance, better representation and development in his community and Constituency. You can confirm this by checking the Facebook posts of the young man.
Promise was detained and arraigned in court on Thursday on charges of "threat to life" and "defamation". He only regained freedom today after perfecting his bail conditions.

Promise has briefed me and Inibehe Effiong Chambers to represent him forthwith in the case.
Read 12 tweets
Inibehe Effiong Profile picture
5 Oct
FUND RAISING FOR INIH EBONG; DYING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SACKED OVER ACTIVISM

As we mark World Teachers' Day, I'm appealing to Nigerians to donate to the medical bills of Dr. Inih Ebong, an associate professor sacked in 2002 by University of Uyo due to his activism before he dies.
Today, I visited Inih Ebong, an associate professor of theatre art at his residence in Uyo. I was almost moved to tears over the hardship and injustice that this patriotic intellectual has gone through for the past 18 years. He is terribly sick and can barely speak. It is tragic.
In 2002, the then dictatorial Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Akpan Morgan Ekpo, sacked Dr. Inih Ebong because he could no longer tolerate his persistent criticisms and activism. Dr. Inih Ebong was a thorn in the flesh of the university management. He was fearless.
Read 13 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get email notifications when new thread is out from this Author!

Check out other threads from this Author!

Read all threads by @InibeheEffiong