Constitutional rights lawyer and Seniour Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome has called on the authorities to immediately release the comedian, Mr Debo Macaroni and other peaceful protesters who were arrested and taken away for detention at the Lekki tollgate today.
Ozekhome who condemned the act said that the detention of Macaroni and other peaceful protesters is patently illegal and totally unconstitutional.
According to him, the Nigerian Constitution has not been abrogated by this dictatorial government of impunity.
SCiting sections 40 and 41, Ozekhome noted that the vonstitution gives Debo and other Nigerians the right to peaceful assembly and association, and the right to freedom of movement.
Even under military dictatorships, as one of the founding fathers of the CLO – the Civil Liberties Organisation – (the first indigenous human rights organization in Nigeria founded on 15th October, 1987), Ozekhome recalled that he was allowed to demonstrate and protest on the streets by successive military juntas.
Debo and the other protesters have done no wrong to protest. It has not been shown that it was violent. Is the Federal government truly saying Nigerians should no longer protest?
Then, the FG should dissolve the people and select or elect another one of its choice.
