The Lagos State Civil Society Participation for Development, LACSOP has decried the unlawful freezing of account of EndSARS protesters in the country.
LACSOP, in a press statement issued by Barr Ayo Adebusoye, Chairman, Board of Trustees, noted that the Federal Government need to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens.
Adebusoye explained that freezing the account of the protesters through an ‘ex-parte’ request which was granted in the absence of the victims is sheer disrespect to the rule of law and abuse of the citizens’ rights to fair hearing.
He stressed that such action is a connivance among the Executives which could degenerate to a state of anarchy and dictatorship.
“Justice Ahmed Mohammed approved the CBN’s ‘ex-parte’ request to freeze the account of peaceful protesters for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the CBN.
“Such action deprives the victims fair hearing and it is also a disrespect to the rule of law,” Adebusoye added.
He also noted that the victims are being treated as criminals when all they did was to engage in peaceful protests, which is legitimate in a democratic system.
“The government need to expedite same actions being carried out on peaceful protesters to criminals and bandits across the country.
“If this is done, the challenges of insecurity and some of the identified issues by the EndSARS protesters would be addressed.
“This tells us that if the federal government has the political will to tackle all the challenges faced in the country, it would achieve a major difference,” he added.