Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has called upon the Nigeria Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case of brutality against lawyers in Lagos State. The call follows a peaceful protest organized by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos, against the reported unlawful arrest and detention of lawyer Olumide Sonupe by the force .
The lawyers, representing five branches of the NBA, marched from the Ikeja secretariat to the Command headquarters, where they were addressed by the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade. This protest comes in the wake of the removal of the Divisional Police Officer of Moshalashi Police Station, Austin Arase, who allegedly ordered Sonupe’s detention.
Sonupe, a 36-year-old lawyer, was reportedly hospitalized after being detained while seeking bail for his client at the Moshalashi Police Station on December 30, 2023. The incident, involving alleged the force misconduct, prompted the Nigerian Bar Association to take a stand against what they perceive as an increasing rate of harassment faced by lawyers at the hands of the force .
Speaking during the protest, Femi Falana emphasized the NBA’s commitment to defending the rights of lawyers and highlighted ongoing investigations into the matter. He expressed satisfaction with the Commissioner of the force assurance of an ongoing inquiry, adding, “The NBA wants a full investigation of the incident.”
Chairman of the NBA Ikeja branch, Seyi Olawumi, condemned the heightened harassment of lawyers by the police and described the peaceful protest as a demonstration against police brutality towards legal practitioners serving their clients.
Olumide Sonupe, accompanied by family, friends, and colleagues, emphasized the importance of justice in the aftermath of his ordeal. He called on the force to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade, addressing the protesters, acknowledged the unfortunate incident and assured the lawyers that measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence. He stated, “Police officers are meant to respect lawyers, and lawyers are meant to respect officers.”
Instances of illegal arrests and detentions by the force to have sparked public outcry, with citizens accusing law enforcement agencies of violating their human rights. The Nigerian Bar Association has consistently spoken out against such incidents, advocating for the protection of the rights of lawyers and citizens alike.