President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has directed its branches nationwide to monitor the trials of #EndBadGovernance protesters.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NBA president said initiatives to provide the protesters with legal representation had been set in motion.
Concerns had been raised in some quarters regarding the fairness and transparency of the protesters’ trials, and the inability of some of them to get legal representation.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Osigwe said, “I have directed the branches of the Nigerian Bar Association to monitor the trials of the #EndBadGovernance protesters. Additionally, I have launched a pro bono support initiative for protesters who lack legal representation.”
Mr Osigwe added that the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee would liaise “with the Chairmen and Human Rights Committees of NBA branches in regions where protesters are currently being prosecuted” to ensure that no defendant suffers injustice.
He assured that the NBA legal teams would continue to monitor court proceedings to ensure that trials were conducted with strict adherence to due process, and rule of law held to safeguard the legal rights of defendants and ensure justice was served.
