Falz reacts as Femi Falana reveals police has no power to ban protests

Femi Falana, a renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer has revealed that the police have no constitutional authority to permit or ban public assemblies, rallies, or protests as the authority is vested in governors.

“State governors are in charge of rallies and not the police,” Falana said Tuesday at an #EndSARS memorial organised by the African Center for Media and Information Literacy.

He said the question of the right to ban protests was settled by the courts in the case between the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) vs. Inspector General of Police.

Falana said the police had appealed the ruling and in 2007 the appeal court upheld the rights lawyer’s argument and ordered a permanent injunction restraining the police from preventing citizens from convening peaceful rallies across the country.

Falana cited section 1 of the Police Public Order Act, and also section 40 of the 1999 constitution that gives Nigerians the right to assembly freely and associate with others.

He also cited articles 10 and 11 of the African charter on human and peoples rights to peaceful assembly and association, stating that no one can prohibit protesters from exercising their right to demonstrate.

Meanwhile, his son, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz early this morning urged Nigerians to attend a protest to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS massacre.

In a social media post, Falz shared a digital flier with #ENDSARS MEMORIAL CAR PROCESSION written on it, calling people to remember those murdered by security agencies during the October 20, 2020 #EndSARS protest.

He asked participants to come out with their cars and gather for the protest that will be held on Wednesday morning around 8:00 am-10:00 am at the Lekki toll gate plaza.

“It is impossible for us not to memorialize our fallen heroes. We will never ever forget.

“Innocent Nigerian citizens waved flags and sang till they were shot at, injured and killed. We must never forget.

“We’re rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate. We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize police harassment. We will stay in our vehicles throughout. We have rides for people that need.

“Each and everyone’s safety is very important so please let’s move together.

EndSARS. EndSarsMemorial #October2020 #WeWillNotForget.”

The call for the public to rally on Wednesday to mark the #EndSARS memorial has been circulating on social media aas young people throng the streets to protest against unruly leadership.