Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, joined fellow legal practitioners in Lagos to denounce police brutality against lawyers and Nigerians.
The protest stems from the recent detention of Lagos-based lawyer Olumide Sonupe, who was reportedly hospitalized after two days in police custody at Gowon Estate Police Station, Lagos, on December 30, 2023. The detention was related to an alleged assault of a police officer during negotiations.
In response to this incident and other recent cases of harassment and assault by the Nigerian police, hundreds of lawyers gathered at the Nigerian Bar Association (Ikeja branch).
From there, they marched peacefully to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command.
Speaking in Ikeja, Femi Falana highlighted the lawyers’ collective stand against police brutality, particularly in the recent mistreatment of their colleague.
He stressed that Nigerian lawyers would no longer tolerate the brutalization of lawyers and citizens, advocating for a full investigation into the incident at the police station. Lagos State Police Commissioner, Adegoke Fayoade, assured the lawyers that a thorough investigation was underway.
Originally scheduled to submit their petition against police brutality to Commissioner Fayoade, the lawyers learned of his awareness of the planned protest.
He showed up at the bar centre to engage in dialogue with them, addressing their concerns. Despite initial protests against his presence, the lawyers, led by Falana and the chairmen of all five branches of the NBA in Lagos, allowed him to address the gathering before submitting their letter of protest.
Following this interaction, the lawyers proceeded with the protest, led by Falana and the NBA chairmen, chanting solidarity songs to express their discontent with the conduct of the police.
