Human rights activist and one of the lawyers representing detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, in this interview, gives reasons October 1 protests must go on. He frowns at what he calls criminalisation of protest by the Tinubu administration, saying Nigerians shouldn't be deterred in the face of state-sponsored intimidation.
Another round of protests against hardship is scheduled for October 1.This is despite the fact that some of those who protested recently are still detained across the country. What can you say about it?
Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest. And that right shouldn't be given to government. We cannot live in a country that pretends to be in a democracy, at the same time, we are disallowing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It is no longer that the Tinubu regime is not happy. What is important is that the country is in a terrible shape, Nigerians are aggrieved and have the right to protest. In fact, Nigerians have the right to protest everyday. If people choose to embark on indefinite protest until the issues in the country are addressed, it is within their constitutional rights. The constitution did not limit the duration of protest or even the reason for protest as long as it is lawful and legitimate. To that extent, I am in support of Nigerians who want to protest. And deploying security agents to arrest citizens who are protesting is simply wrong and condemnable. We will continue to stand up for anyone whose right is violated on account of peaceful protest.
Our determination is unflinching. The same way government is determined to interfere with the right of the citizens to protest, the same way we are determined to defend that right. We are not going to negotiate that right with government. The arrests are baseless. The attempt to trivialise treason and make a mockery of our criminal justice system is a reminder that those in power lack democratic credentials. We in the civil society must be unrelenting in our determination to ensure that we uphold the principles of equity. We will continue to provide support for anyone wrongly arrested on account of joining a peaceful protest.
There is an atmosphere of fear in the country because people are scared about coming to protest on October 1...
I don't think anyone should be afraid. All these charges they are filing are just an attempt to distract people. Government just wants to distract Nigerians from the real issues. Nobody should be scared of exercising his or her constitutional right. This is our country; it doesn't belong to Tinubu or All Progressives Congress, APC. All Nigerians have equal rights in the country. People have to conquer their fears and insist on their rights. Ultimately, the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. I am encouraging Nigerians to overcome fears. The attempt to terrorise people must be defeated. Nobody should be frightened on account of the abuse of criminal justice system by the Tinubu regime.
You are one of the lawyers of those detained for embarking on the first #EndBadGovernance protests, and you were even in court today, Friday. Why do you think government is continuing with the trial despite nationwide outrage?
Regarding the people in detention, to secure their release, several actions are being filed in court. We are challenging their detention while some of them have been granted bail. We are also going to represent all those arrested on account of the protests. For the October 1 protest, we are also engaging law enforcement agencies. We have written a letter to the Inspector General of Police to notify him about the protests. On our part, we would afford protection to any Nigerian whose right is trampled upon just because the person participated in protest.
How many people are still in detention for participating in the last protest?
I can't put a figure to that. We have been informed that some are being detained by the DSS and the police. I don't have a definite number. Nobody should be criminalised for protesting. As much as we are aware, we are doing all we can to address the issues. We are unrelenting in making sure they are released. There would be no meeting point in this matter except all the detainees are released. It is not a matter for negotiation. It is a shame on them that Nigerians are being arrested for expressing their grievances. That kind of treatment should not be tolerated under a supposed democratic dispensation.
At some point, you were a victim of human rights violation and you were detained. What can you say about the human rights record of this administration?
My experience emboldened me. What is clear is that those in authority in our country are not democrats, they are dictators. The Tinubu regime is not democratic, they are just pretending. If the administration is democratic, why are they denying people the right to protest? Why are they attacking the media by arresting journalists?
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Are you confident that detained protesters would get justice?
Yes, they will. We are not bothered about the charges government brings. Why are they arresting people? Government said they committed treason on WhatsApp. I don't know what that means. Maybe when the trial starts we would know what they mean. It is important for us in the human rights space and the people to hold our leaders accountable. And that is what we are going to do.
Do you foresee Nigerians coming out en mass this time?
I don't agree that Nigerians do not have the capacity to sustain protest. There were protests before and after #EndSARS. I think the significant thing is that Nigerians have refused to be a conquered people whether the Tinubu regime likes it or not. People must continue to protest because if they don't, what other options do they have? The situation in the country is bad, this administration has destroyed the economy, inflation has affected the people and nothing is happening. The President is buying new aircraft while the people are suffering. Why wouldn't there be protest? People shouldn't be intimated because of the viciousness of an inept administration.
