“Ban” Of BBOG: Femi Falana Should Know Better!

By Kelvin Adegbenga

My attention was recently drawn to the publication in Sahara Reporters by Femi Falana defending the Bring Back Our Girls activities of blocking the highway, stopping traffic and over dramatization of emotion, trying to confront and provoke Policemen.

Quoting Femi Falana, “Yesterday, there was a "clash" between the BBOG and a pro-Buhari group in Abuja. Sequel to the purported clash the Inspector-General of Police has called the BBOG members and announced an illegal ban on public protests in the Federal Capital Territory. Since the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people (including former members of the ANPP who are now in the APC-led government) to assemble peacefully and demonstrate without any official harassment have been upheld by Nigerian courts the illegal ban on public protests in the Federal Capital Territory by the Inspector-General of Police will not be allowed to stand. More so, that is principally aimed at stopping the demand for the unconditionally release of the Chibok girls from the illegal incarceration of the Boko Haram sect.”

I wish to remind Femi Falana that IGP Ibrahim Idris NEVER banned any protest but rather, quoting the IGP, he said “….We however ask that they tread with caution and that their grievances be channeled within the ambit of the law.

The Inspector-General of Police NEVER accused the BBOG campaigners of engaging in subversive, if Femi Falana has personal issues to settle with the Nigeria Police, he should channel it to the appropriate quarters instead of riding on the back of the Bring Back Our Girls Group to expressed is anger.

The Police NEVER harassed the BBOG in any manner whatsoever and howsoever as insinuated by Femi Falana. All the IGP Ibrahim Idris is saying is that BBOG should be “mindful of freedom of movement of other persons enshrined in chapter 4, section 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.”  

I quite appreciate Femi Falana role on the successful challenge at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in the unreported case of Hadiza Bala Usman &Ors v Commissioner of Police & Anor. (Suit no FCT/Hc/CV/1693/2014 October 30th 2014 where the Court of Appeal granted a perpetual injunction restraining the appellant (IGP) from further preventing Nigerian citizens from demonstrating for and against the government.

Femi Falana as a Lawyer should know better than supporting the illegality of the Bring Back Our Girls. By waiting for the Criminal Code that has made adequate provisions for sanctions against breakdown of law and order, many precious lives would have been lost. So I strongly support the Inspector-General of Police statement that the Bring Back Our Girls Group should tread with caution in their activities.

On a final note, it is time for the BBOG to maintain some level of control so that people of Abuja and its environs can live in harmony and levelheadedness.

Kelvin Adegbenga is a Public Affairs commentator based in Port Hacourt. He can be reached via: kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com