April 01, (THEWILL) – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the police to release lawyers detained in River State, while trying to petition the tribunal over the recent governorship election in the state.
The lawyers namely Jerry Aondo, Dr Sobere Nelson, and Odum Eyiba, were putting together their petition in a hotel in the state, when they were arrested by the police.
They were said to be filing processes on behalf of Tonye Cole, the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Rivers State, when they were arrested.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had declared Sim Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the gubernatorial election.
According to INEC, Fubara polled 302,614 votes to defeat Cole of the APC, who scored 95,274 votes.
While the Rivers election tribunal is expected to sit on Monday, SERAP in a tweet on Saturday, condemned the development, describing it as “impunity”.
“President Buhari must instruct the police to immediately release three lawyers who are reportedly arrested while filing processes to challenge the just concluded governorship election in Rivers State. This impunity must STOP”, SERAP tweeted.
On Saturday, Cole demanded INEC to give his legal team all the Certified True Copies of electoral materials used in the election so they can appear before the Tribunal “prepared”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has vowed to take legal action against the police officers who arrested the three lawyers.
A statement signed by the NBA president, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN), stated that it is unfortunate and disturbing for police officers to be used as tools for contravening the rule of law.
He disclosed that although the police authorities have assured him of their release, NBA will ensure that those involved in the lawyers’ arrest will face the law.
The statement reads in part: ”It was reported that the trio, who all practice in Mr Tuduru Ede, SAN’s law firm in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were working on a petition for the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the declaration by INEC in the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state and were arrested while preparing the petition in a Hotel where they secured rooms and lodged for the purpose of the assignment.
“I have spoken with Mr Tuduru Ede (SAN), and he confirmed the incident.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) strongly condemns such unwarranted harassment of lawyers in the lawful performance of their professional duties to their clients.
“Situations where the instrumentality of the police is apparently being used to harass and intimidate lawyers, is a direct affront to the rule of law and a threat to our democracy; it is an invitation to anarchy and chaos, as people would rather resort to self-help than approach the civil and constitutional means provided for the resolution of disputes.
“I reached out to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police (CP) Rivers State, and I have been assured of the release of our colleagues.
“We shall also take up the matter to ensure that any person(s) including police officers, who may be found complicit in the events leading to the arrest of our colleagues, is sanctioned for any possible abuse of office.
“I will continue to talk with Mr Tuduru SAN and shall keep you posted on further developments in this matter.”
