The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), on Saturday condemned the harassment and arrest of protesters by the Nigeria police, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
SPN in a statement signed by its Acting National Chairperson, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye and National Secretary, Comrade Chinedu Bosah stated that the arrest and harassment of the protesters by the police was unconstitutional.
The party said that the arrest of Comrade Mushood Oshunfurewa and 12 others who sought to participate in the peaceful protest by the police is unlawful.
According to the party, the protest was triggered by the ruling of Justice Okuwobi-led Lagos state judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS and the Lekki shooting of October 20, 2020 during the #EndSAR protest that rocked the entire country.
Comrade Moshood Oshunfurewa, Lagos State Secretary of SPN and a leading member of Democratic Socialist Movement, DSM, and 12 others were arrested in early hour of Saturday, 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki tollgate where they had gathered for a peaceful protest, saying the panel ruled that the Lekki Concession Company,( LCC ) should regain the procession of lekki toll gate plaza for operation and collection of toll.
” Asides from the fact that the issues surrounding the killing and shooting which led to the closure of the tollgate plaza are yet to be resolved is also to note that the decision of the panel suggests that the human lives lost at the toll gate during the shooting are not as precious and valuable as the revenue loss being experienced at the toll gate plaza since its closure following the shooting.
“ Moreover, the decision of the panel to return the possession of the LCC is also capable of undermining the demands for justice by Nigerians for the victims of the lekki shooting which is part of the main reason the panel was set up in the first instance”, it said
SPN added, “It is in the light of this, SPN demands the reversal of the panel decision; expresses its support for the repressed #OCCUOPYLEKKITOLL GATE# peaceful protest called to prevail on the panel to reverse its unfair decision and holds that the arrest of Comrade Mushood Oshunfurewa and 12 others who sought to participate in the peaceful protest by the Nigeria police is unconstitutional and unlawful.”
“The rights of every Nigerian to peaceful assembly, protest including association among others is fully guaranteed in the section 39 and 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended”.
