Lawyers from Lagos state have taken to the streets to protest police brutality against their colleagues and Nigerians.
The rally is especially appropriate considering that Olumide Sonupe, a Lagos lawyer, was recently arrested for two days by police at the Gowon Estate Police Station in Lagos.
On December 30, 2023, Sonupe was reportedly brought to the hospital after being arrested by police for allegedly hitting a police officer during a discussion.
Days after the incident, hundreds of lawyers who condemned it and other recent incidents of police harassment and assault gathered at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (Ikeja branch) bar centre and marched peacefully to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters.
Briefing media in Ikeja, Falana stated that the five NBA chapters in Lagos met with the state police commissioner, Adegoke Fayoade, who informed the attorneys that a comprehensive investigation into the event had begun.
“Lawyers in Lagos State decided to come together today to protest against police brutality because of the recent maltreatment meted out to one of our colleagues,” he stated.
“We are making a case through him that Nigerian lawyers will no longer allow the brutalisation of lawyers and indeed other citizens. The NBA wants a full investigation of the incident in the station and happily, the commissioner of police announced today that hyper investigation is already ongoing.”
The attorneys were meant to deliver their petition alleging police violence to Lagos State Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade. However, before they could leave for the demonstration, the commissioner, who learned of the planned protest, arrived to the bar centre to speak with the lawyers and address their concerns.
The attorneys objected his presence, but Falana intervened and permitted him to address the assembly, after which the letter of protest was submitted to him.
Despite this, the attorneys headed by Falana and the chairmen of all five NBA branches in Lagos joined the demonstration, shouting solidarity songs to express their disgust with the police’s actions.
