Ayoyinka Oni: Detained EndSARS Protesters’ Fundamental Rights Have Been Breached, Public Compensation Necessary

Lagos State chairman of African Action Congress (AAC)’Ayoyinka Oni, has said that detained EndSARS protesters’ fundamental rights have been breached, and public compensation is necessary.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Oni refuted reports that all detained EndSARS protesters have been released from jail as stated by the Nigerian Police.

The former Lagos Coordinator of Take It Back movement argued that the government should publicly compensate victims of fundamental human rights breaches upon their release from jail.

He said, “The breach of fundamental human right is very painful. Most of the victims don’t have the funds to file for a case of fundamental human rights. Let’s assume the government is responsible. When these people are out of jail, knowing that it was the state that took them through their journey of sadness and wickedness, why not compensate them publicly.”

Validating his claims, Ayoyinka provided the names of citizen protesters who are still detained. He mentioned, “Dare Williams, Daniel Joyibo, Adigun Sodiq, Ismail Olaogun, Rasheed Wasiu Bolaji, Moshood Biola and Ismail Mufutau” who are in Kirikiri prison.

Ayoyinka stated that the Nigerian police meticulously performed their duty in “picking up people illegally, accusing them of numerous crimes and dumping them in prison.”

Using the case of Dare Williams, who had been adjourned over 18 times by the court, Ayoyinka emphasised that the judicial system is also a problem.

He said, “We need judiciary. Some of the protesters don’t have lawyers, and we get lawyers for them, where we have a problem is the judicial system. A case of Dare Williams who had been adjourned over 18 times in court.”

In providing context to the case of Dare Williams, Ayoyinka said, “He was accused of armed robbery. Dare Williams was picked late December because he posted videos of police being beaten and molested during the endsars protest and his WhatsApp TV that he downloaded from twitter like everybody and he was picked up and was first beaten up for few days before being taken to Kirikiri prison.”

He mentioned that cases like this have significantly impacted the morale of young people.

Ayoyinka pointed out that they will approach the chief justice in the various state where members have been detained illegally because they were involved in EndSARS protest so that when they visit those places they can release those victims under the criminal justice system.

He contended that the police can not say they pardoned people who “never committed any crime.”

Nancy Mbamalu

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