Human Right Lawyer Arrested And Detained For Allegedly Criticizing Nigerian Police Force

The continued reported cases of police brutality has created fears in the heart of many Nigerians.

Many Nigerians are asking when will the Nigerian Police Force be reformed as new cases of brutality, subjection to illegal arrest and detention takes a toll in several cities in Nigeria.

This was the case of Martin Obono, a human rights lawyer, who was arrested by the police in the federal capital territory (FCT) for allegedly criticizing them.

Obono was arrested on Friday and he is being held at a police station in Zone 3, in the Wuse district of the capital city.

The lawyer’s arrest is connected to a rape case he is handling, which he had tweeted about.

Confirming his arrest to TheCable, Ndi Kato, a gender advocate, said she is at the police station and that efforts are being made to get him out of custody.

“We are here at the police station, We are with SP operations,” she said.

On Tuesday, the lawyer tweeted about the case.

“Five days ago, my clients reported a rape case. The suspect used police to turned the case on its head and got the ladies detained the girls in same cell with men. I was livid. It didn’t end there, they asked them to bring a level 14 civil servant, C of O to surety their bail,” he had tweeted. “I managed to get them out without those stringent bail conditions. You now see why women don’t come out?”

I managed to get them out without those stringent bail conditions. You now see why women don’t come out?

— M. M. Obono (@martobono) June 2, 2020