NBA, Falana kick as police arrest Rivers APC lawyers

Police on Friday night arrested three lawyers of the All Progressives Congress in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The lawyers were picked up while preparing petitions against the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the recent governorship election in Rivers State.

The lawyers, Jerry Aondo, Dr Sobere Nelson and Odum Eyiba. were picked up at a hotel they were lodging in Port Harcourt.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the arrest of the three lawyers.

In a statement personally signed by NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN, the group described the news of the arrest of the lawyers as “rather unfortunate and disturbing.”

He said, “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) strongly condemns such unwarranted harassment of lawyers in the lawful performance of their professional duties to their clients. Situations where the instrumentality of the police is apparently being used to harass and intimidate lawyers, is a direct affront to the rule of law and a threat to our democracy.

“it is an invitation to anarchy and chaos, as people would rather resort to self-help than approach the civil and constitutional means provided for the resolution of disputes.”

Before the lawyers were granted bail Saturday night, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, had called for their unconditional release.

The Rivers governorship candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole, decried the arrest of his three lawyers.

Cole also said five support staff of the party were arrested by the police operatives.

It was gathered that the lawyers attached to the chambers of Tuduru Ede, SAN, were initially moved to the NPF Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Ogunabali (by Market Square). They were later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department inside the town.