The arrested and detained #EndBadGovernaceprotesters have faulted the court order that permitted their arrest and detention, telling President Bola Tinubu that he has no right to arrest them.
The protesters, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1233/2024, challenged the August 22, 2024 Federal High court order issued by Justice Emeka Nwite that permitted the Inspector General of police to remand them for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation on their case.
The protesters, in an affidavit deposed to by one Paul Ochayi, maintained that “protest is a right and infact the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu had led protests in the past without being harassed, detained or remanded”.
They contended that by the actions of the security agencies, their right to life, dignity of human person, health and freedom of movement have been put under threat and being violated by the police without any justification.
The applicants, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo and 48 others in a motion on notice filed on August 26 sued the Inspector General of Police as the sole respondent in the suit through a consortium of lawyers led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana.
Recall that the Nigerian youths had taken to the streets in most parts of the nation between August 1 to 10 to bemoan the economic hardship in the country.
The applicants in the motion on notice obtained by our correspondent on Saturday argued that the motion ex-parte on which their remand was approved was predicated on suppression and misrepresentation of material facts.
They contended that the motion ex-parte constitutes a gross abuse of court process, asking the court to set aside, discharge and or vacate the exparte order that approved their remand in prison for 60 days.
They also sought an order of the court to grant them bail.
