The Chairman of the Nnewi Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kingsley Awuka, Esq., on Wednesday, 21st October, 2020 briefed the Branch on the #ENDSARS protests. The Chairman set down modalities for collation of complaints from the general public on Police Extra Judicial Killings, Brutality and Human Rights Violations.
To give life to the said modalities, the Nnewi Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association established a Complaint Desk in Nnewi, to be manned and coordinated by the Vice Chairman of the Branch, who is also the Chairman of the Branch’s Standing Committee on Human Rights.
This was revealed in a statement by the Publicity secretary, F. Ofodeme Esq. and made available to BarristerNG, Mr. Awuka, Esq., appealed to members of the Branch to submit cases of illegal detentions by the SARS or Anti-cult which detention has exceeded 48Hours. He further implored members to inform their clients or the general public to take advantage of this Complaint Desk and report, without fear, cases of human right abuses, unlawful police detention, extra judicial killings etc for immediate free legal action. He then promised that the Branch shall also offer a quick, rapid legal response to anyone within the state arrested while embarking on the ENDSARS protest.
The Chairman also urged members to, in their individual capacities, assist in any and every way to make the collation of complainants a success. The collated complainants shall be forwarded to “Broad based Panel” set up by the State Government to investigate police extra Judicial Killings and human right violations. The collated complaints are also to be used to seek legal redress for victims.
Concluding his briefing, the Chairman of the Branch stated that the Executive Committee of the Branch shall in the next 24 Hours commence an advocacy visit to all the police formations in Nnewi and that the Branch Executive Committee shall also interface with the Administrative Chief Magistrate of Nnewi and that of Ozubulu Magisterial District.
The essence of the advocacy visit to the police is to ascertain the number and nature of detentions at the various police stations with a view to securing release of he detainees in deserving cases. According to the Chairman, the interface with Administrative Chief Magistrates is aimed at encouraging them to conduct regular visits to the police stations within their jurisdiction with a view to decongestion of police cells.
Read Also: Nigeria must stop unlawful arrests, detentions – Amnesty International
Below are the help lines for the Complaint Desk: 08034704089 (Chairman NBA Nnewi Branch); 08032709489 (Vice Chairman and Chairman Human Rights Committee)
08034937792 (Branch Secretary)
08035730794 (Branch Legal Adviser).
Mr. Awuka, Esq., finally directed the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee as well as the Coordinator of the Complaint Desk to furnish the Branch with the details of modalities for submission of hard copies of written complainants within 24 Hours.
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