By SUNNY OKIM

Human rights and constitutional lawyer, Joe Nwokedi has said that the recent petition against Femi Falana, SAN, by a lawyer; Joseph Nwaegbu to the International Criminal Court (ICC), for an alleged role of Falana in the #EndSARS protests is deceitful and embarrassing to well meaning Nigerians.

Nwokedi made the remarks in a statement made available to New Express on Monday.

He stated that using an unknown organisation; Make Nigeria Better Initiative (MNBI), as a cover to write such an ignoble letter, reminds of the ugly trend Nigerians faced and battled during the Abacha Era with a group known as Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA).

He therefore advised Nigerians to be very watchful and vigilant over the petition against Chief Femi Falana, SAN, as we may be facing another brutal dictatorship in Nigeria in soonest time.

“Chief Femi Falana, SAN, represents the voice of the people of Nigeria, he is man deeply committed to the enthronement of good democracy and governance in Nigeria, as well as ensuring that our democracy is adequately secured and protected from the marauding hawks we call our politicians in Nigeria, who are totally pre-occupied with their selfish desires and interests and know nothing but to compete unabatedly on how to make life very miserable and terrible for the people of Nigeria,” said Nwokedi.

“Chief Femi Falana, SAN, is a special gift to any democratic society, especially in Africa, where most leaders easily metamorphose into Frankenstein Monsters without constant checks and monitoring of their excesses by people like Chief Femi Falana, SAN, that constantly put their lives, careers and livelihood on the line, to ensure the freedom and success of the people and equally save them from the tight clutches and unrestrained desires of our conscienceless politicians. Therefore a clampdown on Chief Femi Falana, SAN, in any form or manner is very detrimental and injurious to our democracy and good governance as a country,” he added.

Nwokedi lamented that the allegation against Falana is nothing but a mischievous and malicious ploy targeted at destroying the image, morale and unbridled doggedness of the respected human rights lawyer, in safeguarding our democracy, defending the people and ensuring the sustenance and enforcement of the fundamental rights and freedom of Nigerians as enshrined and entrenched in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which every citizen of Nigeria is without any form of doubt, entitled to.

Continuing Nwokedi said:

“In the said petition against Chief Femi Falana, SAN, we heard the voice of Esau but saw the hand of Jacob and I therefore call on every Nigerian to be vigilant and watchful for the unfolding of this dangerous drama in Nigeria by this present administration.”

“ I have repeatedly said it that the #EndSARS protesters are different from hoodlums that looted people’s shops, offices and destroyed properties. Any attempt to criminalize or incriminate any protester for exercising his/ her Constitutional rights as guaranteed under Sections 39, 40 & 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which are inalienable rights of the Nigerian Citizens shall surely fail. I therefore, call on our judiciary to rise to the occasion and resist any form of intimidation, harassment or threat that will cause them to not declare the Law and uphold the constitution,” Nwokedi further said.

He therefore advised that law enforcement agencies should go after the hoodlums/looters, fish them out, arrest and prosecute them and leave people that exercised their legitimate rights of protest under democratic system of government which we practice in this country, alone.

Nwokedi advised lawyers to always be conscious of the fact that the society regards the law profession as “Noble” and should therefore desist from any act and reject any form of gratification or inducement meant to compromise the reputation or drag the profession to the mud.

It is still a big shock to me that a Nigerian lawyer can petition a renowned advocate and defender of the masses like Chief Femi Falana, SAN to the International Criminal Court (ICC), without any substantiated facts or cause of action,” he added.

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