The human rights lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, part of the legal team for detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the Nigerian Police Force for what he called unprovoked brutality and executive rascality during his recent arrest at a protest in Abuja. Ejimakor recounted a traumatic experience marked by excessive tear gas, physical assaults, and unlawful detentions lasting several days.
He described the police crackdown as inhumane and disproportionate, emphasizing that protesters, including himself, were subjected to tear gas at dangerously close ranges, with some nearly suffocating. The violence extended beyond the initial arrest to police headquarters and subsequent detention at the notorious Abattoir facility. Ejimakor labeled the police actions as an assault on democratic opposition, accusing the current Tinubu-led government of intensifying repression and lawlessness.
Clarifying the purpose of the protest, Ejimakor stressed it was directed against the executive branch of government, not the judiciary. He explained that prosecutions arise from the executive via the Attorney General, who could discontinue cases as per Section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution. The legal team’s demand was for the federal government to cease persecution of Kanu, who has been detained despite multiple court orders for release, including under circumstances Ejimakor asserts violated both Nigerian and international law.
Ejimakor vowed to legally challenge his arrest and hold the police accountable for what he termed state-sponsored violence and suppression of peaceful dissent. He called on Nigerians to recognize the injustice and pledged continued pursuit of justice for all citizens facing repression under the current administration.
