By Udeze Ekene

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has launched free legal services for #EndBadGovernance protesters who lack legal representatives.

The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, said NBA’s state chapters have also been enjoined to be in court across the country to monitor proceedings concerning hunger protesters.

In his statement on Wednesday morning, on his X handle, Osigwe also disclosed that NBA’s Citizens’ Liberties Committee, headed by a human rights lawyer, Effiong Inibehe, would also liaise with Chairmen and Human Rights Committees of the NBA across the country to monitor proceedings to ensure no defendant suffers injustice.

This is coming as the federal government through the Police charged over 100 peaceful protesters with treason.

According to international human rights group, Amnesty International (AI), the federal government’s treason charge pressed on peaceful hunger protesters was aimed at killing the constitutional rights of the citizens to peaceful protest.

It read: “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.

“The Nigerian Bar Association Citizens’ Liberties Committee (NBA-CLC) has been tasked with liaising closely with the Chairmen and Human Rights Committees of NBA branches in regions where protesters are currently being prosecuted. This ensures that no defendant suffers injustice.

“The NBA legal team will continue to monitor court proceedings to ensure that trials are conducted with strict adherence to due process, safeguarding the legal rights of all defendants. The Nigerian Bar Association legal teams are in courts and will continue to monitor proceedings to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, the human rights of defendants are protected, and justice is served.”