The organisers of the October 1, 2024, protest, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM), have taken legal action against the Nigerian government for allegedly violating their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression.
The lawsuit, filed before the Federal High Court No. 3 in Kano State and marked FHC/KN/CS/41/2025, is set for hearing on March 6, 2025. The respondents in the case include the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Director of DSS in Kano State.
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, the Organising Secretary of NPFM, confirmed the legal move in a statement released on Friday. According to Yankuzo, the case was filed to uphold the constitutional rights of Nigerians and to challenge the restrictive actions taken by the current administration against peaceful protestors.
Yankuzo recounted that on September 30, 2024, six young activists were arrested in Kano State by a joint operation involving the DSS and the police. The individuals—Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, Barrister Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Barrister Amina Bello, Comrade Anas Ado Ahmad, Comrade Sani Ibrahim Narogo, and Comrade Abdullahi Adamu Mandawari—were taken under armed escort to the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja. They were detained for two days in connection with the October 1 #EndBadGovernance protests.
During their detention, the activists were subjected to interrogations before their eventual release. Yankuzo noted that since then, the environment for protests in Nigeria has become increasingly restricted, with growing threats to freedom of speech and press freedom.
“We filed this case to reaffirm and protect the right of Nigerians to protest peacefully without fear of arrest, harassment, or suppression by government authorities,” Yankuzo stated.
He further emphasized that the case extends beyond the six arrested activists, highlighting the broader issue of civil liberties in Nigeria. “We must not allow the government to criminalize protests. We urge human rights advocates and legal professionals to support this landmark case to safeguard our democratic rights.”
As the hearing date approaches, civil society groups and human rights defenders are closely monitoring the case, which could have significant implications for freedom of expression and assembly in Nigeria.
