Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, has announced that participants in the upcoming nationwide protest in Lagos will receive free legal representation if they are arrested or face court charges.
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Effiong, an advocate for the protest scheduled from August 1-10, 2024, took to social media to call on legal professionals in Lagos to provide pro bono services for protesters.
In a tweet on July 25, 2024, Effiong said, “We are organizing a legal team in Lagos to support any protester who may be arrested or charged during the forthcoming peaceful demonstration.
Lawyers willing to offer pro bono services can contact me via DM with your WhatsApp numbers. Thank you. History will vindicate the just.”
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Omodolapo Yusuff, one of the lawyers providing free legal aid, emphasized the importance of public awareness to prevent the protest from being hijacked by individuals with ulterior motives.
Yusuff remarked, “Awareness is crucial to ensure that the protest remains focused on its goals. Protesters are advocating for the common good, not personal gain.”
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Yusuff also criticized security forces, suggesting that some officials might compromise their roles.
He expressed confidence that with sufficient public awareness, the protest would be protected from vandalism and looting.
Lawyer Benjamin Odeh, another member of the legal team, criticized government intolerance toward protests and the use of heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent.
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He compared the current situation to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which faced similar challenges but persisted despite government attempts to disrupt them.
Meanwhile, state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory have urged protesters to reconsider, citing ongoing government efforts to improve the economy.
President Bola Tinubu held emergency meetings with APC governors, traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars to address the potential impact of the hunger protests and seek ways to prevent them from occurring nationwide.
