Lawyer condemns arrest of lagos market leaders

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LAWYER CONDEMNS ARREST OF LAGOS MARKET LEADERS

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the arrest of market leaders in Lagos State, describing it as "unconstitutional" and "a gross violation of their fundamental rights".

Falana, who is a human rights activist, made the statement while reacting to the arrest of several market leaders in the state, including the Chairman of the Lagos State Market Association, Mr. Adeshina Adekunle.

According to reports, the arrested market leaders were taken into custody by the police for allegedly disrupting the peace in the state. However, Falana argued that the arrest was unlawful and that the market leaders were exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association and assembly.

"It is unacceptable that the police would arrest market leaders for exercising their fundamental rights," Falana said. "The Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of association and assembly, and it is the duty of the government to protect these rights, not to suppress them."

Falana also accused the government of using the police to intimidate and harass market leaders, adding that this was a clear violation of the principles of democracy.

"The government should not use the police to suppress the voices of the people," he said. "Instead, it should engage with market leaders and other stakeholders to address their concerns and find solutions to the problems facing the state."

The lawyer also called on the government to release the arrested market leaders immediately and to take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"The government must respect the rights of all citizens, including market leaders," Falana said. "It is the duty of the government to protect the rights of all citizens, not to suppress them."

The Lagos State Government has not commented on the arrest of the market leaders, but the police have said that they were taken into custody for allegedly disrupting the peace in the state.