NBA Report flags Lagos police for bias during June 12 protest

The Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised concerns over the conduct of the Lagos police during the June 12 protest, accusing them of displaying bias.

In its observatory report of the protest signed by its chairman, Chinenye Udeh, Vice Chairman, Joseph Opute and Secretary, Clementina Olaniyan, the NBA Human Rights Committee says the police looked away when a group of counter-protesters made several efforts to disrupt the June 12 rally called by the #EndBadGovernance Movement.

The NBA noted that the counter-protesters continually provoked the #EndBadGovernance Movement during the protest, but the police did nothing to stop them.

The NBA had written the police on June 11, notifying them of the right of the #EndBadGovernance Movement to hold protest as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. The NBA also demanded that the police provide security cover for the protesters in line with section 84 (4) of the Police Act.

The full report of the NBA observation during the June 12 protest is published below.

INTRODUCTION

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Lagos State, on 4th of June, 2025, civil societies group under the aegis of Endbadgovernance Movement in line with SECTION 84(4) of the POLICE ACT (AS AMENDED) 2024 notified the office of the Commissioner of Police of their intention to hold a rally on June 12, 2025 to commemorate Democracy Day in Nigeria.The Organizers were invited to a meeting on 10th of June, 2025 by 11am at the Police Command Ikeja. The Organizers honoured the meeting but it did not hold due to the absence of the Commissioner of Police on account of an official engagement. The meeting was subsequently rescheduled to 11th of June, 2025 by 4pm but it was not convenient for the Organizers who suggested a virtual meeting for ease of attendance and participation.The Organizers did not get any response from the Office of the Commissioner of Police.

On 11th of June, 2025, the Human Rights Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch wrote the Commissioner of Police to provide security protection for the protesters in accordance with SECTION 84(4) of the POLICE ACT. The Committee informed the Commissioner of Police that it would closely monitor the rally and issue an official report of the outcome as hereinafter outlined.

FINDINGS

The Committee observed that on 12th of June, 2025 about 7:30am, a parallel pro-government counter rally converged at the Ikeja Under Bridge where the endbadgovernance June 12 commemorative Rally was billed to take off. The counter protesters made efforts to disrupt the endbadgovernance June 12 Rally. They closely followed the endbadgovernance June 12 procession rather than hold their own independent rally. It was observed that wherever the endbadgovernance June 12 procession made a stop to address the public, the Organizers of the counter protest would turn their heavy-duty public-address systems to the highest decibel to drown out what the endbadgovernance June 12 rally Organizers were saying. The Organizers of the counter protest kept undermining the endbadgovernance June 12 rally from Ikeja Under Bridge, to Gani Fawehinmi Park to Olusosun Junction where the rally eventually ended. These acts of provocation happened under the full glare of the Police.

The Committee also observed with immense worry the restriction of movement at Ikorodu on account of Oro rites at the behest of traditional institutions. This in no small measure restricted the people’s right to movement, peaceful and lawful assembly on 12th of June, 2025 Democracy day.

CONCLUSION

Although, no rights violation was recorded in Lagos State on 12th of June, 2025, a lot is expected from the Police. The Police allowed the counter protesters to converge at the same meeting point the endbadgovernance June 12 rally Organizers had announced they would take off from. The counter protesters acts of provocation during the event went unchecked exposing the Police as biased.

Also, the Police in Lagos State failed to safeguard the rights of the people of Ikorodu to movement, peaceful and lawful assembly on 12th of June, 2025. The Police stood by while the traditional authorities used Oro rites to suppress the rights of the people in that area.

The Human Rights Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch uses this medium to spotlight that SECTION 5(2) of the ACT charges the Police with the responsibility for promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of all persons as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights and other International instruments on Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory. The foregoing mandate has no room for the Police to be partisan in the discharge of its statutory duties.

The Human Rights Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch reaffirms respect and protections of Fundamental Human Rights as recipe for a thriving Democracy.…………………………… ………………………….