Yemi Obafemi
Amnesty International has called Nigeria authorities to end heavy-handed clampdown and witch-hunt of human rights defenders, journalists, whistleblowers and activists.
The call follows the bail conditions granted to the 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters facing treason charges by the court.
A Federal High Court in Abuja granted N10 million bail to ten individuals on Wednesday, with the condition that they provide sureties who are Abuja property owners and submit the property documents to the court.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, expressed concerns over conditions of the bail.
Sanusi emphasized that the detention of the ten #EndBadGovernance protesters and others who peacefully protested against corruption and poverty from August 1-10 was unjustified and should not have occurred.
“Amnesty International observes with grave concern the Nigerian Authorities’ wanton weaponisation of stringent bail conditions to justify arbitrary detentions and to excessively restrict activists’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
“The Nigerian authorities must uphold their international human rights obligations by protecting and facilitating the right to peaceful assembly. The heavy-handed clampdown and witch-hunt of human rights defenders, journalists, whistleblowers and activists must end.”
