Femi Falana: #EndSARS protesters not economic saboteurs

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), said on Thursday that #EndSARS protesters were not economic saboteurs as suggested by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, on Tuesday.

Justice Tsoho had at the ceremony marking the commencement of the 2020/2021 legal year of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, tried to justify the order issued by another judge of the court, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, freezing the accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters.

He said three months the protests, the Central Bank of Nigeria kept filing applications in their hundreds to tackle deliberate attempts to ruin the economy through money laundering.

He added, “So if it was the #EndSARS people that were involved in the activities under cover then it is unfortunate for people to begin to call and vilify the court making damaging allegations against the court.”

Asked to respond to the Chief Judge’s attempt to link the protest promoters to economic sabotage, Falana said on Thursday that the protest promoters were not economic saboteurs but patriotic citizens.

Falana, who is a lawyer to the #EndSARS protesters whose accounts were frozen by the apex bank, recalled that the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, held a virtual meeting with the promoters in the wake of the peaceful protests.



He said Emefiele resorted to obtaining ex parte order to freeze the accounts of the protest promoters after failing to convince them to call off the protest.

He said, “Since the application of the 20 #EndSARS promoters seeking to quash the ex parte order freezing their bank accounts is pending before the Federal High Court presided over by the Honourable Justice R.A. Mohammed, I have persuaded our clients to refrain from joining issues with the Honourable Chief Judge over the controversial ex cathedra statement.

“However, it is pertinent to state that the 20 #EndSARS were not sued as corporate bodies but as individuals whose names and bank accounts are listed in all the processes filed in the court by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“I wish to say, without any fear of contradiction that the #EndSARS protesters are not economic saboteurs but patriotic citizens who protested against incessant police brutality.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the case was filed on October 20, 2020, while the order ex parte was issued on November 4, 2020, after the #EndSARS protests.”

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business




.

SoBright101:
Blame those who sponsored hoodlums to hijack the peaceful protest. Have you seen any government official or any law enforcement agent talk about the geep that dropped paid hoodlums at the venue of protests?

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business




.

Exc2000:


Paid hoodlums are also youths

The black SUV was linked to a Senator not Nigerian Government

If Hoodlums who are youth attacked protesters, should the EndSARs youth react by burning innocent people's property, burning and looting people's shop

..

AsiwajuNdigbo:


Economic sabotage was the closing of border. Thats what capsized the economy, not Endsars

Exc2000:

I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster
Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business

Exc2000:



No go run your game for Ali with your RDP or RAT

They form intellectual cap as if we don't know why we are both awake at this time

LookInTheMirror:
Exactly they are not

It's just that Nigeria is an upside down confused country otherwise they should be heroes

LookInTheMirror:
Exactly they are not

It's just that Nigeria is an upside down confused country otherwise they should be heroes

slawormiir:
Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

I perused and read between lines through your comments while blazing my weed and putting on my intellectual cap
But I must say I dey shame for you

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business

.

TOPCRUISE:

Only those who are sympathetic to the government talk the way you do. If you feel oppressed for so long and victim of injustice a massive protest will do everything to let their message get to the government. There is no better way of protests than that. These are not meant to happen in saner climes

Exc2000:


Okay I support you, since looting private people's property is protest

Where is your address let me come and protest
.

Exc2000:


Paid hoodlums are also youths

The black SUV was linked to a Senator not Nigerian Government

If Hoodlums who are youth attacked protesters, should the EndSARs youth react by burning innocent people's property, burning and looting people's shop

..

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business




.

TOPCRUISE:
The loot were not done by the protesters. It's like saying celebrities and NGO's and victims of police brutality were the ones that loot private properties to enable their vices to be heard. That's wrong
We all know they protests was hijacked. The main purpose of the protests was not meant to be violent and was spearheaded by responsible people. Government, security operatives and authorities that ought to monitor the protests were the ones sending hoodlums to frustrate the protests and I can't clap for them for doing that

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business




.

AsiwajuNdigbo:


Do you have picture of Endsars protesters looting shops?

supportnija:
Learner SAN but they blocked road to force office to close, for people trader not to go market, people not to go their normal business.

Exc2000:



I beg to disagree with all due respect to respected Legal luminary Femi Falana SAN

Has much as ENDSARS started with patriotic motive , it snowballed into a terrible Economic disaster

Agricultural produce could not get to markets due to blocked highways, schools got closed with NECO postponed, burnt Police Station triggered insecurity which led to looting of people's business




.

Exc2000:


Paid hoodlums are also youths

The black SUV was linked to a Senator not Nigerian Government

If Hoodlums who are youth attacked protesters, should the EndSARs youth react by burning innocent people's property, burning and looting people's shop

..