Niger
Lawyers in Niger embarked on a 24 hour strike,to protest the authorities’ refusal to let them see their detained clients in connection with a failed coup in mid-December.
The lawyers have decided not to report to their offices this Monday 11 January and to launch a complaint against the “perpetrators to the violation of the law,” they stated in a press statement released to the media.
The lawyers directly linked the Director General for External security to these arrests and detentions.
“He is directly linked to the President of the Republic. This gives him mandate to proceed with arrests and detentions, and that is the exclusive competence of the judiciary”. the press statement read.
This is the third time in the history of Niger’s Bar Association that it has called its members to close their offices and go on strike amid political tension before the presidential elections to be held on February, 21 this year.
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