Displaying of Russian flags during protests not treasonable felony –Inibehe Effiong

Eric Patrick

A Nigerian Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has said that displaying of Foreign flags during protests in the country is not felony, stating that hotels and other private organizations does the same.

Effiong disagreement with the military came after the Nigerian Army issued a statement,  stating that those who waved Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protests committed treasonable felony.

Videos and photos have gone viral on social media showing the moment some Northern protesters especially from Kaduna state were seen displaying Russian flags during the protest. 

Nigerians all over the country have expressed discontent with the present government's adoption of IMF policies and the Western-style democracy, leading them to seek support from Russia and advocate for an alternative system.

Some persons believed to be behind the sponsorship and production of the flags have been arrested by security agents. 

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described it as treason. 

He said, “You can see that some subversive elements are pushing individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria; that is crossing the red line, and we will not accept that." 

Reacting in a statement made available to newsmen, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria described the waving of its flag by the protesters as a personal decision, adding that it does not represent any of its diplomatic policies.

However, Inibehe Effiong during an interview on Channel Television on Wednesday, said waving of foreign flags in Nigeria has never been an offence.

He added that many schools, churches and five-star hotels in Nigeria have foreign flags on their premises.

He asserted that the use of the Russian flag is not part of the issue that the protesters are talking about, describing it as a complete distraction. 

Inibehe Effiong, "Regarding the issue of the flag, there are two dimensions to it. My first position is to say that if the flying of these flags is part of a grand plot to destabilise our country, I condemn it in its entirety. 

“For us who are playing some parts in the #EndBadGovernance protests, I don't think the protesters are interested in any foreign intervention. 

"The use of the Russian flag is not part of the issue that the protesters are talking about, I see it as a complete distraction. However, does that amount to treason? Can someone be tried for treason for carrying the Russian flag? I do not agree.

"I completely disagree with the position of the military that those who are carrying Russian flags are committing treasonable felony. What are they talking about, flying of foreign flags in our country has never been an offence.

“In many five-star hotels in Nigeria, foreign nations flags are used in decorating those hotels, even in schools in our country, we see foreign flags. 

 

“So what is special about Russia? Except they are saying that it is treason when it is Russian flag. It is not treason if it is American flag or if it is a Canadian flag. Because even in the Villa when foreign states come, we see the flags of their nation being flown.

"But for some of the people who were actually calling the military to take over, it is completely condemnable. There is no allowance for military intervention. And those of us who have read a bit of history, we know that doesn't offer solution. We can see what is happening in countries that militaries have intervened. 

"In fact, when they come in, you now struggle to push them out. That is not our message. That is not what the protesters are demanding, at least, those that I represent. They are not calling for any military intervention. We don't need that in our country. 

"What we simply want is an end to bad governance. So those who are calling on the military to intervene should be investigated. But I want to re-emphasise that if you say someone has committed treason, what the law defines as treason is waging war against the state with the intention of overthrowing or intimidating the president or a governor. You cannot do that by simply displaying a flag. 

"There has to be what we call an anonymous interest and the main thread to show that beyond the carrying of the flag, there is a grand plan to overthrow government or to demand foreign intervention. I don't think that is the truth. 

"And as I have stated, under the flags and national coat, the act, it is not a criminal offence ordinarily to fly the flag of a foreign country, especially when it is not our national flag and it is not a flag of the Commonwealth. 

“So I don't see how this is an offence in itself, and I'm waiting for the army to actually refer the matter to the police, to file charges at the Ministry of Justice. Let us see how it will look, it is not an offence.”