Police arrest Late Gani Fawehinmi’s widow, son, others

Posted by admin Headlines Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s widow, Ganiat, his son, Mohammed, former
National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr Dipo
Fashina and several other pro-democracy activists were on Saturday
brutalized and later arrested by the police over their attempts to hold a
procession in honour of those killed during the nationwide strike called by
organized labour to protest government removal of fuel subsidy.

Others arrested were Comrade Ayodele Akele, Poopola Ajayi, Ismail Olawale,
Sola Olatunde, Kulu Oladejo, Alex Omoteseyin, Kazeem Akinrinade, Moses
Adeola, Akin Adedeji, Agbodemu Mosco, Abiodun Aremu and Tunde
Agunbiade.

Mr Iyatse Joshua, a journalist with City FM Radio Station who was covering
was not spared the police brutality as he was also arrested along with the pro-
democracy activists.

The procession was planned by the Joint Action Front, Nigeria Medical
Association, NMA, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, among others to mourn the
deceased.

The procession had taken off from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) sub-
headquarters in Yaba towards to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square at
Ojota when they ran into a team of policemen under the Rapid Response
Squad at the Onigbongb, Maryland area.

The police team, reportedly lead by the Area F Commander, spontaneously
fired several canisters of tear gas to disperse the procession.

The pro-democracy activities were reportedly bruised following the instructions
of the Commander before they were arrested.

Former ASUU National President, Dr Fashina had his cloths torn by the
policemen in the process leading to his arrest.

The activists were still in police custody as at press time while effort to get the
Jaiyeoba Joseph, spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command to
comment on the matter was fruitless.
-Africanexaminerwp_posts