No Going Back On EndSARS Memorial Rally, Protesters Respond to Lagos Police

No Going Back On EndSARS Memorial Rally, Protesters Respond to Lagos Police

FastNews reports that Protesters have insisted that their planned rally to mark the one-year anniversary of the country’s #EndSARS campaign will take place on Wednesday.

This is despite police warnings that no protests are permitted.

They made this known in a statement issued by their legal representatives in the Nigerian Bar Association under the aegis of the Radical Agenda Movement.

In the statement jointly signed by the group’s chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, and Secretary, Ayodele Ademoluyi, the protesters said, “The assertion in the Press Statement that the “attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the Police in Lagos have agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one year #EndSARS anniversary on the 20th October 2021” begs the question of even whether your Command or the entire Nigeria Police Force has the capacity in law to allow or disallow citizens of Lagos State and of Nigeria from exercising their right to peaceful protest, which is guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999 as amended).

“We further assert that the assertion that “on the contrary, the Police will ONLY ALLOW an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the #EndSARS Anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue(s) if known” contradicts the decision in MUHAMMADU BUHARI v INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE that a Police Permit is not required for peaceful processions in the exercise of the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.”

“We respectfully submit that your Command, by its stated position, has resolved once more to repress the fundamental rights of peaceful citizens who wish to gather tomorrow, October 20th, 2021, to commemorate the #EndSARS Anniversary.”

“You will kindly note that the fundamental rights of association, peaceful assembly, peaceful procession, freedom of movement, and expression are all enshrined and guaranteed under the grundnorm, the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution” (1999 as amended).

Take note that no members of the #EndSARS movement or citizens interested in commemorating the First Anniversary of the 2020 #EndSARS Protests threatened violence, breached public peace, or caused any kind of nuisance in their commemoration activities. We dare you to provide evidence to the contrary.

“In light of the foregoing, we request that your Command respect the Constitution and, as law-keepers, obey the laws of the land in the matter at hand.”