‘No justification’ — Falana asks IGP to release lawyers arrested for filing APC tribunal petitions in Rivers

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and activist has called on Usman Baba, inspector general of police (IGP) to order the release of three lawyers detained in Rivers state. 

Falana made the demand on Saturday in a statement received by TheCable. 

TheCable understands that the lawyers – Jerry Aondo, Sobere Nelson and Odum Eyiba, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) were arrested in Port Harcourt on Friday while filing a legal proceeding against the results of the just concluded gubernatorial elections. 

The lawyers were said to be preparing petitions for the party ahead of their appearance at the election tribunal on Monday, April 3, 2023.

They were taken to the police intelligence and surveillance unit, Ogunabali. 

They had items such as laptops, exhibits required for their petition defence, agent’s copy of form extra result sheets (EC8), and certified true copies (CTC) of INEC documents seized by the police. 

Falana said the lawyers’ arrest has no legal justification, therefore, they must be released immediately. 

“I have just confirmed that the police will drag the detained lawyers to a magistrate court on Monday, April 3, and charge them with the forgery of electoral materials,” Falana said. 

“The primary purpose of the latest display of naked power is to frustrate the opposition from filing an election petition against the rigging and violence that marred the March 18 governorship election in Rivers state. 

“Since there is no legal justification for the arrest and detention of the lawyers, we are compelled to call on the inspector-general of police to order their immediate release. 

“The Rivers state commissioner of police should publicly apologise to the lawyers.

“Those who claim to have won the governorship election in Rivers must be prepared to defend their mandate without any intimidation or harassment of lawyers and witnesses.”

Meanwhile, Siminialayi Funbara, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated Tonye Cole of the APC in the state governorship election.