The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Wednesday, condemned the killing of peaceful #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki tract in Lagos by unidentified men of the Nigerian Military.
The legal body, during a statement that was signed by its President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, said reports available thereto indicated that the Lekki shootings were “a carefully calculated and premeditated attack”. It vowed to commence legal proceedings, both locally and internationally, against the Nigerian Military and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, “for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and therefore the infringement of the elemental rights (including the proper to life) of the affected citizens”. NBA maintained that breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos government wasn't a misdemeanor that would warrant the utilization of live ammunition to confront the protesters at the Lekki tract .
It asked the military supreme headquarters to right away identify and name the officers involved “in this gross professional misconduct for immediate prosecution and dismissal in line with extant laws”. The statement read: “The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has been drawn to the dastardly shooting and killing of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki tract in Lagos State by some unidentified men of the Nigerian Military on Tuesday, 20th October 2020. “From news reports on the incident, many lives were lost within the attack while several others were injured during the melee that ensued. “The NBA strongly condemns this act of recklessness and lawlessness by the safety apparatus of the govt in what, supported reports available to us, appears to possess been a carefully calculated and premeditated attack.
“The NBA states that albeit the protesters at the Lekki tract were in breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos government , such a misdemeanor or breach didn't warrant the utilization of live ammunition by the Nigerian military to confront otherwise peaceful, unarmed and defenseless protesters. “To be clear, the events of today are events that we should always never see or consider as normal in any democracy. “Against the backdrop of this ugly development, the NBA wishes to state as follows: “The military supreme headquarters is hereby requested to right away identify and name the officers involved during this gross professional misconduct for immediate prosecution and dismissal in line with extant laws.
“The NBA shall immediately commence legal proceedings in the least relevant fora (both locally and internationally) against the Nigerian Military, and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and therefore the infringement of the elemental rights (including the proper to life) of the affected citizens. “Given the degenerating nature of the crisis, an emergency meeting of the state al Executive Committee (the highest decision-making body of the NBA) are going to be convened within subsequent 48 hours to review the state of the Nation and take other appropriate steps to decisively affect things and stop the state from further going adrift.
“The NBA believes that the present situation within the country involves dynamic leadership and, as critical stakeholders within the Nigerian project, invites the President of Nigeria et al. in authority to point out uncommon leadership in saving things , rather than deploying troops against defenseless citizens whom they swore an oath to protect”.
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