SERAP has filed a lawsuit against Buhari over the EndSARS report, requesting that the court order the suspects’ arrest

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental organization, and 116 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit in the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking the court to order and compel President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate steps to ensure the arrest of soldiers and police officers indicted by the Lagos #EndSARS panel report for the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll-Gate, as well as cases of police brutality.

SERAP is also asking the court to order and compel President Buhari to bring to justice anyone suspected of being responsible for the shooting of peaceful protesters, as well as to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims, including adequate compensation, in the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1482/2021 filed on Friday.

“It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” SERAP claims in the suit, “as it would improve respect for Nigerians’ rights, the rule of law, and public confidence in government institutions, as well as reduce the growing culture of impunity among perpetrators.”

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“The safety of Nigerian protesters remains as precarious as ever, and impunity for crimes against them is growing,” according to SERAP. Perpetrators are emboldened by impunity. Failure to bring those charged with shooting peaceful protesters to justice is a violation of their right to life and dignity in and of itself.”

“The flagrant lack of accountability for past violations of protesters’ rights has led to a growing sense of powerlessness and resentment not only among victims and their families but also among the general public,” according to SERAP.

“The failure to promptly arrest and bring to justice those suspected of being responsible for the shooting of peaceful protesters, as well as to ensure victims and their families have access to justice and effective remedies amounts to a travesty of justice,” SERAP added.

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to ensure that those still detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights are immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against them are dropped,” according to SERAP.