Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, was on Thursday, seen alongside some members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ota Branch, protesting against the brutality and harassment of lawyers while carrying out their professional duties.
They were seen wielding placards with different inscriptions such as “Ota Bar Says: Police brutality of lawyers is a criminal offence,” and “Police brutality and harassment of lawyers carrying out their professional duties is an offence.”
PUNCH Online reports that a Lagos-based lawyer, Olumide Sonupe, was hospitalised after he was said to have been detained by the police while seeking the bail of his client at the Moshalashi Police Station in the Alimosho area of the state on December 30, 2023.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has since ordered the removal of the Divisional Police Officer, Gowon Estate Division, Austin Arase, following the conclusion of investigations into the allegations made against the DPO.