Detention unconstitutional – Rights lawyer
Right to protest
By Ibrahim Mustapha
Kanempress News
23th August 2024
A human rights lawyer, Temi Salami, has described the continued the detention of the protesters as a violation of Section 36 of the Constitution.
Salami, said Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution requires suspects to be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours if the court is not within jurisdiction.
Salami described the detention of Endbad governance protesters as a clear violation of the protesters’ rights, likening it to the Abacha era and a sign of Nigeria becoming a police state under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He stated: “It is against our laws to detain any suspect beyond 48 hours without an arraignment. Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) specifically states that anyone arrested must be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours at the maximum, if the court is not within jurisdiction.
“Detaining the #EndBadGovernance protesters for nearly three weeks is a gross violation of their fundamental rights, and it seems the Tinubu administration is taking us back to the Abacha era. Nigeria is gradually becoming a police state under President Bola Tinubu,” Salami stated.
