The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra State chapter has chided the military over the proposed Operation Crocodile Smile.
The body described the exercise as ill-timed and insensitive in view of the ongoing nationwide #EndSARS and civil protests.
In a statement on Tuesday jointly signed by the eight branch Chairmen of the association, the lawyers advised the military to shelve the exercise to forstal impending crises.
The signatories to the statement were Vitalis Ihedigbo, Ekene Okonkwo, Steve Ononye, Kingsley Awuka, Jim-Abel Oforma, B.E Ewulum, Anthony Okafor and Kainenechukwu Ananwune.
They said it was ill-advised for the army to contemplate such exercise, stressing that the nation’s current mood called for the tiers of governments to consider the pulse of the people in policy formulation.
Applauding the youths for rising against what they termed the primitive culture of police brutality, the lawyers adviced the #EndSARS protesters to conduct themselves peacefully in order to achieve their purpose.
Part of their statement read, “We seriously frown at the announcement by the military authorities of the planned commencement of Operation Crocodile Smile exercise across the country and wish to state that conduct of military exercises in the midst of ongoing nationwide civil protest is ill-advised and most insensitive decision at this critical moment.
“We call on the Federal government and the military authorities to immediately halt and shelve the planned exercise to a later date. It has become more very imperative for government at all level to always feel the pulse of the people in its decision-making process.
“The Anambra Bar highly commend the great Nigerian youths who have gathered themselves in unprecedented large numbers across the country to say no to the primitive culture of police brutality and to demand immediate reforms.
“We note with particular admiration the resoluteness, dexterity, excellent coordination and peaceful manner in which our protesting youths have so far conducted themselves despite several pockets of orchestrated provocations from agents of State.
“Be rest assured that we the Anambra Bar have your support in this struggle to restore the dignity of our citizens and respect for sanctity of human life.
The lawyers further picked holes in the panel of inquiry set up by the Anambra State Government on defunct SARS’ human rights violation in the state without recourse to the relevant provisions of the law and the exclusion of NBA members.
They added, “We note with grave concern the recent announcement of the Anambra State Government setting up a ‘Broad Based Panel of Enquiry’ to look into the activities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in the State without recourse to the relevant provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Law Cap 31 Vol.2 Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991.
“Besides, we find it very curious that His Excellency. the Executive Governor of Anambra State did not see the need to take the benefit of including representatives of the NBA Anambra State.
“Be that as it may, we advise that the membership of the panel should not exceed nine persons to guarantee quick and through discharge of the duties of the panel.
“We equally commend and deeply appreciate the NBA National President, Olumide Akpata, on the bold steps so far taken by his administration in swiftly mobilizing the entire Bar to lend critical support and guard against abuse of the protesters rights in any manner whatsoever.
“We thank the leadership of NBA Branches across the country for the great solidarity and synergy of efforts at this perilous time of our nation’s history.”
